Preventative

KEEP YOUR SMILE HEALTHY AND BRIGHT

Most people need a general cleaning, also known as prophylaxis, twice a year for a regular check-up. A dental cleaning is called prophylaxis because it safely and comfortably removes the substance providing a home for harmful bacteria. There are many nooks and crannies in our mouths that food particles can stick to. If they stay there, they become a hard tartar substance called calculus. Calculus looks a lot like coral reef; just like coral reef, it allows bacteria to live and multiply.

Brushing and cleaning the teeth regularly (twice a day) and having a dental cleaning every six months can help to maintain a healthy mouth. If harmful bacteria and other pathogens start to establish themselves permanently in our mouths, we can develop periodontal disease that requires gum infection therapy to manage.

Our mission at Busby and Willoughby Dental is to prevent our patients from needing gum infection therapy. However, we can help manage and treat periodontal disease if needed.

Have you ever had a cavity? Would you like to avoid developing cavities? If yes, then fluoride treatments are a great option. They provide needed minerals to help strengthen the tooth’s protective layer (enamel). Patients with a history of cavities and gum recession greatly benefit from fluoride treatments.

Do you have receding gums? Fluoride treatments are also a great way to protect your roots. If you have receding gums (which can be from lots of things such as gum disease, clenching or grinding), it’s vital that we proactively protect your roots. The root surface is more than ten times softer than the enamel. Fluoride treatments applied correctly to your root surfaces will strengthen them, which also can alleviate cold sensitivity.

Fluoride treatments are safe and effective at protecting our teeth, but not everyone needs fluoride. If you are low cavity risk, have a low cavity (low sugar) diet, have no gum recession and great oral hygiene, you will likely not need them.

The best time to have fluoride treatments is right after your dental prophylaxis (cleaning). The teeth have been cleaned and fluoride can stay on the tooth and be released into the tooth for months. There are also alternative options to fluoride treatments.

If you’re interested, please ask one of our clinical team members at your next visit!

Think of your teeth like a car’s tires: the better our teeth are aligned, the longer they will last. One of the best preventative procedures we can do is align your teeth optimally with their neighbors so you can chew evenly and comfortably. Proper teeth alignment protects the teeth, muscles and jaw joints. Misaligned and shifting teeth usually go unnoticed until a tooth breaks or becomes painful. It is more common now than ever before for people to keep their teeth all their lives, which is excellent news! That is why we are seeing so many adults utilizing clear aligners or braces.

If there are slight nuances with your smile that you may not be happy with, Busby and Willoughby Dental would be happy to discuss your options!

We regularly provide oral cancer examinations and recognize this is an important exam. The healthcare community has been seeing an increase in oral cancer cases and the earlier we detect it, the better chance we have to treat it. We know that both tobacco and moderate alcohol use is associated with higher oral cancer risk. If you find anything that doesn’t look right on the tongue, lips, cheeks or other areas of the mouth, and it lasts longer than two weeks, let us know and we will help. Our clinical team also regularly examines you during your cleaning and exams.