Regular dental care both at home and in our office helps manage your oral health, so you and your family can avoid common issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Which is why we believe in a preventive approach. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX, dentist is looking at our preventive treatments and discussing how they safeguard your smile.
Checkup Visits
Our preventive dental approach begins with a simple visit for a dental checkup. We recommend one every six months for patients of all ages. The exception being patients with high risk factors for gingivitis or gum disease, as we may suggest one every three to four months to keep the disease in check and prevent periodontitis. During your routine exams, we will ask questions about your oral health routine and examine your smile with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras. Digital technology enables us to make a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, and identify concerns in the early stages, treating them before you or your family members experience discomfort in some cases. The sooner we identify an issue, the sooner we can create a treatment plan to improve your overall oral health.
Professional Dental Cleanings
No preventive dentistry visit is complete without a dental cleaning. We offer these as part of your checkup, and the process removes the plaque and tartar buildup that brushing and flossing alone cannot. Our team will employ an ultrasonic scaling device and also a manual pick to gently but thoroughly break up and remove all plaque and tartar. We then polish your teeth for a brighter appearance. These cleanings protect smiles of all ages from the onset of tooth decay, gingivitis, and even gum disease, while also fighting bad breath and teeth stains. If we find the presence of gingivitis or gum disease, we may recommend a deep cleaning to also remove buildup from the roots, so the disease is more manageable moving forward.
Easing TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder is a common oral health concern that develops when the jaw joints undergo excess strain. The stress could be brought on by tooth loss, injury, malocclusion, bruxism (teeth grinding), and complications with the growth of your jaw and the eruption of your teeth. Without treatment, this complicates how you open and close your mouth, and can cause a popping sensation in the jaw, facial pain, and aches in the jaw, neck, and shoulders. But with a custom oral appliance, we have a comfortable and noninvasive solution. This custom device fits comfortably and helps shift your jaw to ease stress and strain.
Treating Teeth Grinding
Oral appliance therapy can also help treat teeth grinding! Bruxism means you grind your teeth frequently, which can damage teeth and increase the risk of tooth decay and infection. Your smile’s appearance could also change, making teeth appear shorter and uneven. Caused by stress and the same factors as TMD, this could be managed with an oral appliance. The device repositions the jaw to ease underlying strain, and also puts a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent further damage.
Solutions for Sleep Apnea
What if you snore and feel tired during the day? These could be warning signs of sleep apnea, a disorder in which airflow is cut off during the night and people stop breathing for a few seconds until the brain wakes you. This interrupts your sleep cycle, and over time, can strain your heart health and immune system. Warning signs, aside from snoring, include dry mouth daytime drowsiness, headaches, irritability, dizziness, and trouble staying focused. Waking suddenly gasping for air or choking is a warning sign too. Our team can offer a noninvasive and preventive approach, using a custom oral appliance to move the tongue and jaw forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues, so you breathe without interruption and enjoy a good night’s rest!
Good Homecare Habits
In between your preventive visits, you should also take time to brush and floss your teeth every day, brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing each evening. Trying to avoid too much sugar and starch, and also avoid tobacco products too. Good oral hygiene habits help protect your smile until we can see you again.
If you have any questions about preventive dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more.
Your Conroe, TX, Dentist Offers Preventive Dentistry
Our team understands how to help manage your oral health and keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy! For more information on scheduling a visit or about our approach to preventive dental care, then contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 today.
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