Preventative Care

Your teeth are designed to last a lifetime so, aging does not mean that you will suffer from tooth loss. Our goal is to help you have the best possible oral health for a lifetime. Unfortunately, for some of our patients, only the high cost of repair is a motivator to adopt preventive habits. However, decay in one tooth, if left untreated, will spread and instead of one filling, you will likely need a full crown, increasing the cost by more than six times! Further delays could result in root canal treatment.

The early stages of gum disease are easy to treat with dental intervention and home care. Without these simple therapies, the result could be tooth loss and prosthetic options requiring a considerable investment of time and money.

No matter how well you brush and floss at home, professional cleaning in the dental office is the only way to remove hard deposits of tartar that form on your teeth. Tartar is a very tough substance formed by harmful bacteria and if the tartar stays put, chances are that it will lead to gum disease.

Professional cleaning gets into places your toothbrush cannot reach. We are able to smooth and polish the roots and surfaces of your teeth so that they aren't as attractive to plaque – an invisible bacterial film that builds up on your teeth every day and may eventually encourage cavities or gum disease. A professional cleaning can also get rid of stains and mild discoloration so that your smile won't just feel better, it will look better too!

Cleaning is performed in various stages. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from under the gumline and between teeth. Scaling gets the tartar off teeth in two steps – gross scaling removes the larger bits of tartar and debris and fine scaling removes the smaller particles, especially around the back teeth where your toothbrush has a tough time. Polishing takes care of your tooth surfaces and makes them feel smoother and fresher.

How often you need professional cleaning depends on how well you brush at home and on how susceptible your teeth are to tartar buildup. A thorough cleaning takes a little additional time during a checkup, but it's time well spent in preventing gum disease.

It is never too late to start a preventive oral health program and we can develop a treatment plan with you. Remember: prevention is the best investment!