Related Video: Scaling Calculus
Related Video: Flossing Techniques
Scaling: Scaling is the removal of bacterial plaque, stain, and calculus (tartar) from the tooth surface. Plaque accumulates on your teeth daily and contains bacteria that can cause gum disease. The minerals in your saliva calcify plaque to form calculus. Calculus provides a rough surface for the accumulation of more plaque and serves as a mechanical irritant to the surrounding tissue. The irritation inflames the gums allowing the harmful bacteria to penetrate the tissue and cause gum disease.
Polishing: Is the removal of stains and soft deposits of plaque that have accumulated on your teeth. Some common factors that lead to stain build up are drinking coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking. The benefits of having your teeth polished include not only a brighter smile, but the teeth surfaces are smoother after having a polish thus helping to slow down the development of bacterial plaque on the teeth.
Fluoride Treatment: We recommend Fluoride treatment based on your individual needs because we feel that fluoride is an effective tool to prevent cavities. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. The benefits of having systemic fluoride as a child include: stronger enamel and shallower grooves and fissures. The smoother and shallower the pits and fissure on the tooth the easier it is to clean away debris that may be on the tooth. One disadvantage of systemic fluoride is that it provides no benefits for adults. Topical application of fluoride is very beneficial for adults. Fluoride can help to desensitize teeth. Polishing may remove the mineral rich layer of enamel. Fluoride helps to promote the re-mineralization of theses areas. Topical Fluoride application can be applied in many forms such as toothpastes, mouth rinses, and gels.
Oral Hygiene Instruction: Instructions are given on methods of plaque, stain reduction, desensitization and tissue stimulation in order to maximize your oral health. Your hygienist will provide you with a toothbrush and floss, and/or specialty tooth cleaning aides.
Radiographs: These are otherwise known as x-rays. Radiographs are necessary diagnostic tools when diagnosing factors involved with gum disease and bone loss. Radiographs are safe and expose the individual to a minimal amount of radiation. The frequency in which they are taken depends on individuals’ needs. In every circumstance we try to acquire existing radiographs from other health professionals to minimize your exposure to radiation.
Desensitization: Teeth can be sensitive to a number of things including hot or cold, touch, or sweets. These can generally be grouped into a hypersensitive situation of the tooth root. When the gums recede the root is exposed and under certain conditions may become sensitive. Desensitization uses techniques to protect the tooth root from these stimuli. PROTECT Sensitizing Solution is applied to the hypersensitive tooth. It is immediately effective, its long-lasting effect maintain pain relief for up to 6 months.
Professional Denture Cleaning: We provide professional denture cleanings. This involves the removal of calculus (hard deposits) and stains from your dentures. We also instruct our clients on how to maintain their dentures properly.
We refer to health care professionals as necessary.