General Dentistry
General family dentistry services are the foundation of our practice, and when you invest a minimal amount of time and energy in routine preventive care, your smile will reap the benefits for a lifetime. We offer the following family dentistry services to protect your smile from oral diseases and other issues.
Routine Preventive Care
Patients should have their teeth cleaned and receive dental exams every six months at a minimum. This is true for both pediatric patients and their parents. Keep in mind that children should be evaluated by a dentist no later than their first birthday, or sooner, depending on the time the first tooth erupts.
Having your teeth cleaned periodically by a dental hygienist is an important supplement to your home oral hygiene routine. Even if you are diligent about brushing and flossing as directed by your dentist, plaque and tartar may accumulate on some of the hard-to-reach surfaces of your teeth. And by the time tartar develops, you won’t be able to remove it by brushing and flossing alone. A dental hygienist can use specialized instruments to dislodge calculus and can reach all areas of your mouth for a more thorough cleaning. Additionally, if you have any questions about your oral hygiene technique, you can ask the hygienist or dentist at this appointment.
The exams that take place at these check-ups give your dentist an opportunity to monitor your teeth and gums at regular intervals, increasing your chances that any problems that do develop will be diagnosed and treated early before they have a chance to do much damage. In the case of oral cancer, which your dentist will screen for, such exams can actually improve your chances of survival.
Fluoride treatments may also be recommended as part of your preventive care. This helps to remineralize and strengthen teeth, offering some additional protection against decay.
