828 NE A St, Grants Pass, OR 97526
Why is Preventive Dental Care Important?
The foundation for a beautiful and happy smile is preventive care from your dentist! Along with diligent at-home brushing and flossing, routine professional cleanings and checkups can help you avoid costly procedures. With regular checkups, we’ll be able to track your oral health and help you keep your smile healthy.
Preventive Treatment Options
Cleaning & Hygiene
Coming in for regular teeth cleanings will ensure that you have a healthy and strong smile. It is recommended to schedule an appointment every six months so your dental hygienist can address any minor stains, plaque, or bacteria that may have built up since your last visit.
A diligent at-home oral care routine is just as important as coming in for your cleanings. Be sure to brush at least twice a day for two minutes using fluoride-based toothpaste. In addition, floss at least once per day to remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria that can’t be removed with brushing alone.
Periodontal Care
Patients who struggle with gum disease are at risk of experiencing tooth loss and other problems. Gingivitis is the first stage, which can be reversed with deep cleanings and diligent at-home care. Visiting the dentist for regular checkups will ensure that patients with gum disease can get control over their oral health before it becomes too late!
We recommend that patients with more advanced cases of gum disease schedule deep cleanings in frequent intervals of about every three months, which can halt the progression of periodontitis and preserve their oral health.
Digital X-Rays
Your comfort is our priority. Digital x-rays are fast, comfortable, and high-resolution images that allow us to make accurate diagnoses while exposing you to less radiation than with traditional film x-rays. In most cases, a full set of x-rays will be taken once or twice per year, but your doctor may also recommend one if they suspect you may have developed a dental issue or if you're experiencing a dental emergency.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride treatments can easily be added to any routine preventive visit to help keep decay at bay. Once your teeth have been cleaned, your Grants Pass dentist will simply apply a fluoride-rich varnish or gel and leave it in place before rinsing it away. Fluoride works by attracting healthy minerals like calcium and phosphates, which will bond to your teeth and help re-strengthen them.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are common for pediatric patients who may be at a high risk of developing cavities, but they are also great for patients of all ages who wish to protect their teeth from dental decay. During this treatment, dental resin will be applied to the rear teeth which have more grooves and crevices where plaque and bacteria can hide. The resin will be hardened with a UV light, creating a strong barrier that blocks food debris, acid, and bacteria from coming into contact with your enamel. When properly applied dental sealant can last for years to come!
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer screenings are a crucial part of preventive oral health care routines. By catching oral cancer early before it spreads, can save a patient’s life. That’s why we always check for any potential signs of oral cancer at every bi-annual checkup.
Your hygienist will examine your mouth, gums, and other oral tissues, keeping an eye out for lesions, lumps, discolored patches, and other abnormalities. If anything looks unusual, a biopsy can be taken and sent to a specialist for further analysis. Oral cancer is rare, but it’s important to be proactive and stay consistent with your oral healthcare routine, so your dentist can easily identify when something is wrong.
Night Guards
Grinding and clenching while sleeping is quite common. Night guards can be a great solution for this subconscious clenching. Night guards form a soft barrier to protect your teeth from the wear and tear that is caused by clenching and grinding. Your dentist will take an impression or scan your teeth to create your custom night guard. The impression or scan will be sent to a dental lab where your night guard will be made. The night guard eases the tension between your jaw muscles and alleviates the painful side effects of clenching and grinding, so you can enjoy restful sleep.
Sports Guards
Similar to night guards, sports mouth guards are worn over the teeth. However sports guards protect your teeth from dental trauma that can occur when playing high-intensity impact sports. Professionally fitted sports guards can protect athletes from oral injury due to impact to the mouth, face, and head. If you play football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, hockey, gymnastics, mountain biking, or other activities that may involve falls, body contact, or flying objects, ask your dentist about developing your custom sports guard today! They are comfortable, durable, and won’t restrict you from doing what you love.