How often should I visit the dentist for checkups?
Visiting the dentist is one of the most important things in order to keep your oral health stable. Regular checkups will be about every six months, but there are some patients that have dental diseases like gum diseases, and they should be coming to the dentist every four months or even sooner than that. Basically, it's one of the most important parts to be preventive and to act before anything happens. That's why it's very important for you guys to come for your regular checkups.
What are the benefits of fluoride treatments?
Fluoride is a very important step to take care of your teeth. It creates a coat around your teeth that protects them from getting cavities, making the teeth stronger. This makes it harder for decay to penetrate the tooth and become a disease. It's very important after each cleaning to get fluoride, that little coat around your tooth, to protect it from decays and cavities. It also strengthens your saliva, enhancing its components to be more cleansable for your teeth.
How can I protect my teeth from decay?
Preventing teeth from getting decayed is probably one of the questions we get asked the most. There's no specific recipe for that, but the most important thing is brushing your teeth. Factors like diet, saliva, and genetics influence decay risk, but brushing is crucial. It keeps your teeth clean and prevents bacteria from decaying the tooth. Flossing is also vital as it removes food and bacteria stuck between teeth, which brushing alone can't always do. Maintaining a good diet, eating fruits and vegetables, avoiding sugar, especially before bed, and brushing before bed is the most important time.
Why do I need dental x-rays and are they safe?
Dental x-rays are tools we use to see your teeth and bones. They are safer than many everyday activities, like flying or eating a banana. They contain less radiation than those activities. X-rays are necessary to view what's beneath the gums, like the bone and the apex of the tooth, which we can't see during a regular exam. They help in detecting small decays and other oral diseases, allowing us to prevent them from worsening. You should get x-rays during your regular checkups, every six months, or every four months for some people.
What causes gum disease and how can I prevent it?
Gum disease is a common oral condition. You might notice it when your gums bleed while brushing or spontaneously. It's caused by bacteria getting stuck between your teeth and gums, especially in areas hard to clean with a toothbrush. Not flossing allows food and bacteria to accumulate, potentially traveling beneath the tooth and affecting the bone, leading to tooth loss. Prevention includes brushing and flossing, but some areas are hard to reach, even with these practices. That's why professional dental cleanings are needed to clean those difficult areas and prevent gum disease from worsening and causing tooth loss.
The one health care provider you see more than any other is your general dentist, and there is a good reason for it. It is because general dentistry is uniquely oriented toward the prevention of disease. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 65 percent of all dental procedures are either diagnostic or preventive. By placing a strong emphasis on oral health and hygiene, general dentists help patients avoid the progression of oral diseases.
At a routine visit to our dental office, we provide you with a thorough examination of your mouth (including teeth, gums, and other oral health structures), a professional cleaning, and a discussion about your dental and overall health. If your exam reveals the presence of tooth decay, cancer, halitosis, or other oral health concerns, we work with you to provide a treatment plan that will suit your individual needs.
What Do General Dentists Do?
Of all the dentists around the world, some 80 percent are general dentists. Unlike specialists, who are mostly focused on a particular aspect of dental practice, general dentists provide a wide array of services that are vital to your continued oral health.
Preventive Dentistry
Preventative dentistry helps you maintain your oral health by providing you with preventative measures to ensure your mouth, teeth, and gums stay healthy. Regular exams (including diagnostic images such as x-rays) and professional teeth cleanings are a cornerstone of prevention. As your general dentist, we provide you with detailed instructions to improve your at-home oral care and may also recommend preventive treatments such as dental sealants or a custom mouth guard.
Restorative Dentistry
When an oral health issue is found, your dentist ensures you receive timely and appropriate treatment. Restorative dentistry involves removing tooth decay and placing a dental filling, repairing a chipped or broken tooth, or replacing a missing tooth. Restorative dentistry also involves the diagnosis and treatment of tooth pain, periodontal (gum) disease, as well as more advanced treatments, such as root canal therapy, orthodontics, and dental implants.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Many general dentists provide procedures to help enhance the look of your smile. Some of these procedures include teeth whitening, dental bonding, and veneers. If a brighter smile is what you are looking for, ask our office about a smile makeover.
Oral Assessments
An oral assessment is a complete review of the condition of your mouth and teeth. Once your assessment is complete, we offer advice and counselling and provide a treatment plan on how to maintain and improve any oral health concerns we find.
Overall Health Concerns
In many respects, your oral health can be seen as a mirror of your overall health. Some dental issues may reflect other health issues in other parts of your body, and vice versa. For example, untreated oral infections can lead to poorer control of diabetes, an increase of cardiovascular disease, and complications during pregnancy. As a general dentist, we are trained to identify these and other oral health issues, and provide appropriate treatment or referrals when needed. One need for a possibly referral would include obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially fatal condition that can be treated with an oral appliance. As your general dentist of Port Charlotte, we can also offer nutritional counseling, advice on tobacco, and general health and wellness information.
When Should I See The Dentist?
You should be visiting our dental office every 4-to-6-months depending on your oral health and the treatment plan you are on. However, if you are experiencing a toothache or bleeding gums, you should call our office to schedule an appointment as these concerns do not go away on their own.
It is important to know that in terms of routine dental appointments, there is not a single schedule that fits all patients. Depending on your individual circumstances, our dentist may want to see you twice a year, every three months, or more often. Whatever it is, do not let those appointments go. Keeping up with the recommended schedule of preventive treatment and practicing effective oral hygiene at home, are the two best ways to prevent oral health diseases and to keep your smile looking bright and healthy.