Preventative Dentistry
Preventive dentistry all about caring for your teeth to keep them healthy. This can help avoid future cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, and more. At Maple Grove Family Dental Clinic, we offer many types of preventive dentistry. They work together to ensure your teeth stay clean, strong, and healthy.
Below are just some of the preventive dentistry services we offer.
Sealants
Sealants are applied to the naturally occurring pits and grooves of posterior teeth that have a high risk of decaying. It’s a resin coating that fills in these areas to inhibit food and cavity causing bacteria to accumulate. Sealants are typically applied with the eruption of posterior teeth in children. Adults can also benefit from sealants especially if they have a high risk of getting cavities.
Sealants
Sealants are applied to the naturally occurring pits and grooves of posterior teeth that have a high risk of decaying. It’s a resin coating that fills in these areas to inhibit food and cavity causing bacteria to accumulate. Sealants are typically applied with the eruption of posterior teeth in children. Adults can also benefit from sealants especially if they have a high risk of getting cavities.
Fluoride
Fluoride is beneficial to teeth because of its effects of repairing and preventing.
While teeth are forming under the gums, the fluoride taken in largely from drinking water and other beverages strengthens tooth enamel making it stronger and more resistant to cavities.
After teeth erupt, fluoride helps rebuild (remineralize) weakened tooth enamel and reverse early signs of tooth decay. When you brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, or use other fluoride dental products, you are providing a “topical” benefit because the fluoride is applied to the surface of your teeth.
Digital X-rays
How often teeth should be x-rayed depends on your present oral health, your age, your risk for disease, and any signs and symptoms of oral disease. For example, children may require x-rays more often because their teeth and jaws are still developing and their teeth are more likely to be affected by tooth decay than those of adults.
If you are a new patient, we may recommend x-rays to determine the present status of your oral health and to help identify changes that may occur later. A new set of x-rays may be needed to help us detect any new cavities, determine the status of your gum health or evaluate the growth and development of your teeth.
Digital X-rays
How often teeth should be x-rayed depends on your present oral health, your age, your risk for disease, and any signs and symptoms of oral disease. For example, children may require x-rays more often because their teeth and jaws are still developing and their teeth are more likely to be affected by tooth decay than those of adults.
If you are a new patient, we may recommend x-rays to determine the present status of your oral health and to help identify changes that may occur later. A new set of x-rays may be needed to help us detect any new cavities, determine the status of your gum health or evaluate the growth and development of your teeth.
Athletic Mouth Guards
Athletic mouth guards are commonly used and required in organized contact sports but rarely in sports such as baseball, basketball, and soccer. It’s not surprising that most emergencies involving injury to the mouth occur in these sports. There are many options for athletic mouth guards. Our ProForm mouth guards provide the best fit and comfort which is essential for maximum protection.
Bite Splints
Bruxism is a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth. Night guards are custom-made by your dentist from plastic or acrylic. The night guard slips over either the upper or lower teeth and prevents the teeth from touching. It protects teeth and helps keep them from wearing down and can help with headaches and head and neck muscle spasms and pain.
Bite Splints
Bruxism is a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth. Night guards are custom-made by your dentist from plastic or acrylic. The night guard slips over either the upper or lower teeth and prevents the teeth from touching. It protects teeth and helps keep them from wearing down and can help with headaches and head and neck muscle spasms and pain.
Oral Cancer Exams / Cleaning
During your examinations, the following will be evaluated:
- X-rays will be evaluated for cavities, bone support of teeth, cysts, tumors, defects in teeth and bone, and any other jaw or tooth conditions.
- Oral cancer screening will be done to evaluate head, neck, and soft tissues of the mouth.
- Teeth and existing restorations for cavities, fractures, cracks, and defects
Periodontal / Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection which affects the supporting bone and soft tissues of teeth. Measurement of pockets and bone levels (with x-rays) and evaluating the gum tissue for inflammation are all key components in evaluating periodontal disease. This disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults and should be treated appropriately.
Periodontal / Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection which affects the supporting bone and soft tissues of teeth. Measurement of pockets and bone levels (with x-rays) and evaluating the gum tissue for inflammation are all key components in evaluating periodontal disease. This disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults and should be treated appropriately.