Professional Cleanings
If your oral hygiene is practically perfect in every way, you still need a professional cleaning every 6 months. Bacteria can form on the teeth in areas your home tools just won’t reach. Their gradual build-up can cause problems like plaque and gum disease.
Why Get a Professional Cleaning?
- Helps prevent Gum Disease
- Helps prevent bad breath
- Helps detect dental problems
- Helps identify oral cancer
- Keeps your smile bright and white
Process
- We’ll take an X-Ray to locate possible problem areas.
- Your dentist will check the health of your gums and teeth, and will ask you about your health history.
- Our hygienists will clean your teeth using an ultrasonic scaler and hand tools.
- Then we’ll polish your teeth to help prevent plaque from building up.
Sealants
Sealants are plastic resins that are painted onto your teeth for protection from decay. They usually last 5-10 years.
Process
- The tooth surface is cleaned.
- The tooth is “etched,” allowing the sealant to adhere, or bond, to the tooth surface.
- The liquid sealant is painted onto your teeth and fills the pits and fissures in your natural tooth structure.
- A specialized light is directed at your teeth to solidify the sealant.
Nightguards
A nightguard is a dental appliance used in the presence of “bruxism” (a disturbance that occurs intermittently during the sleep cycle and involves grinding or clenching of your teeth). It’s estimated that 30% of adults have this involuntary condition. The force of nighttime tooth grinding (up to 250 lbs per square inch) can cause a variety of painful symptoms.
Nightguards go by a variety of names, including “bite plate” or “occlusal splint.” Most over-the-counter appliances are ill-fitting and uncomfortable, so we recommend a custom-fitted appliance made of hard acrylic with clasps that can be adjusted to perfectly fit your bite.
If you have any of the below symptoms, ask us if a nightguard is appropriate for you!
Symptoms
- Uneven wear or chipping of front teeth
- Generalized tooth sensitivity to cold temperatures or biting pressure
- Broken/fractured back teeth which necessitate crowns
- Headache and jaw ache that occurs upon waking in the mornings
- Recurrence of fractured fillings or crowns