Preventive Dentistry
Patients of all ages should see a family dentist every six months as part of preventive dentistry care. If you struggle with periodontal disease or tooth decay, this recommended frequency may be increased to better benefit your oral health. These visits allow us to monitor your smile, locate any sources of damage or discomfort, and provide personalized recommendations for treatments that will help strengthen and maintain your teeth and gums for years to come.
Check-Ups and Cleanings
Before we can prescribe preventive dental treatment, we have to fully understand our patients’ oral health and the struggles they’re facing. During your checkup, we will closely examine the surface of each tooth, assess the gum tissue, perform an oral cancer screening, and evaluate any existing restorations. X-rays will aid us in finding potential problems that are hidden under the surface or between the teeth. Once we have all the information, a treatment plan can be formulated that addresses the patient’s wants and needs. With this, we can help them achieve a healthy, happy smile.
Dental Sealants
Dental Sealants, as the name suggests, coat teeth to seal out bacteria, plaque, and tartar to prevent decay. The process is simple but is an important part of our preventive dentistry for our Gahanna patients. After patients’ professional teeth cleanings, we apply a thin coat of liquid sealant and harden it into position over teeth with a curing light. Once the sealant is in place, it is invisible to the naked eye and protects smiles for years.
Nightguards for Clenching & Grinding
Occlusal splints, also known as nightguards, are effective in treating a number of common oral health concerns including temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ/TMD) and bruxism, or unconscious teeth grinding and clenching. Most patients experience bruxism while they are sleeping, but our occlusal splints protect patients’ teeth from the potential damage and wear of unconscious teeth grinding and clenching. Over years of untreated grinding and clenching, patients may also experience TMD, which is strain or damage to the joints connecting the jaw and skull. TMD may be treated with a special type of nightguard that repositions the jaw so teeth rest together comfortably, reducing strain on the TMJ and relieving the associated jaw pain and discomfort.
Advanced Velscope Oral Cancer Screenings
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, cancers of the mouth, throat, and face claim the life of 1 US adult every hour. When called upon to determine the best way to decrease this number, the foundation offered a response that did not surprise many health care providers: early diagnosis through routine preventive dentistry is the best way to prevent oral cancer related death. We use Velscope technology to thoroughly screen for oral cancer. The process is simple. We examine the surfaces of your mouth, gums, tongue, and throat looking for visible changes in the texture, color, or shape of soft tissues. We also physically palpate your face, neck, and throat, gently feeling for out of the ordinary bumps or lumps.
Sleep Apnea Therapy
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the periodic cessation of breathing during sleep, visiting the dentist may not be your first thought, but in many cases, a compact, comfortable oral appliance is the best option to keep your airway clear and allow you to sleep soundly through the night. When worn every night, patients may begin to see dramatic improvement in the quality of their sleep almost immediately. Many patients prefer wearing our oral appliance instead of a CPAP machine.
