Preventive Dental Services

The mouth is both a mirror and a gateway for the health of the rest of your body. Our goal is not only to fix what might be broken, but also to teach you how to achieve and maintain a state of health. No matter what difficulties you may have had in the past in caring for your mouth, we are here to help you move forward through restoration and into a phase of prevention.

There are two fundamental, ongoing processes in the mouth that are responsible for the majority of damage to the teeth and gums: Forces generated by clenching and grinding (bruxing), and bacterial plaque or biofilm. Successfully limiting these two destructive processes is the key to preventing nearly 95% of dental disease. But it isn’t just your mouth that may benefit.

Controlling and preventing the spread of dental disease may also help in the management, and perhaps even the prevention, of many other chronic inflammatory conditions. Research has shown that diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even Alzheimer’s are often associated with inflammatory disease in the mouth, commonly known as periodontal or gum disease. Oral bacteria have been found in the scrapings of atherosclerotic plaques from blood vessels, and patients with rheumatoid arthritis are eight times as likely to also have gum disease as patients without an autoimmune disorder. While the ultimate cause of many of these conditions remains unknown, it is clear that preventing the spread of bacterial plaque is an important part of maintaining health, whether you have another chronic condition or not.

Necessary dental treatment only gets more complicated and expensive if delayed. Every service we offer, from orthodontics to dental sleep medicine, is designed to address issues at the earliest stage possible to prevent further damage and complications. However, there are some services that are offered primarily for the purposes of controlling the two main destructive forces of the mouth (clenching and grinding, and bacterial plaque). Those services are:

• Regularly scheduled dental cleanings and periodontal services.
• Regular monitoring for decay and overall mouth health
• Regular monitoring for growth and development in children, including looking for signs of tooth crowding, airway obstruction, tongue habits, etc.
• Coaching and instruction on diet, nutrition, and proper home-care techniques.
• pH balancing for the control of virulent bacterial plaque infections.
• Mercury-free preventive resins and restorations.
• Nightguards to prevent damage to teeth and gums through unconscious clenching and grinding.