|
Dental Hygiene/Periodontal Health
In addition to the meticulous cleaning, polishing, and examination of your teeth, we also take the time to help our patients develop proper oral hygiene habits at home. We will evaluate your hygiene techniques and make adjustments to your routine where needed. Our doctors and hygienists will also make suggestions for preventative measures such as dental sealants or nightguards to protect against bruxism & TMJ.
If we feel that you are suffering from gingivitis or more severe gum disease, we may recommend scaling and root planing procedures. These measures can be instrumental in preventing bone loss and helping you to keep your natural teeth.
Oral Cancer Screenings
During a dental exam, the doctor will check your neck and oral tissues for lumps, red or white patches or recurring sore areas.
Screening for early changes in the oral tissue can help detect cancer at a stage when it can be more successfully treated.
Smoking, especially combined with heavy alcohol consumption (30 drinks a week or more), is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. In fact, this combination is estimated to be the most likely trigger in about 75 percent of oral cancers diagnosed in this country. Other lifestyle and environmental factors also may increase your risk of developing oral cancer.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical periodontal therapy in which the hygienist removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line. Root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed with specially designed instruments. It is important to remove the plaque and tartar from the pockets, because aside from the bacterial toxins that irritate the gums, plaque and the rough surfaces of tartar make it easier for bacteria to gain a foothold.
Arestin
Our office provides the service of localized placement of a medicine, Arestin, in your gum pockets if they are infected with bacteria that is causing bone loss. ARESTIN® uses Microsphere technology to deliver minocycline, an antibiotic that kills the bacteria that cause periodontal disease. The minocycline is placed painlessly under the gums, directly to the infected site. ARESTIN® Microspheres continue to fight the infection for up to 21 days.
ARESTIN® is indicated as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures for reduction of pocket depth in patients with adult periodontitis. ARESTIN® may be used as part of a periodontal maintenance program which includes good oral hygiene, and scaling and root planing.
For more information visit, http://www.arestin.com/for-patients.jsp
|
