GENERAL DENTISTRY
Preventive measures, like routine dental exams, are recommended to maintain your oral health and protect your teeth from cavities or other issues.
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Keeping up with annual dental exams allows you to be proactive about preserving the health of your smile. An annual oral exam at Alliance Family Dentistry assesses your mouth for tooth cavities, periodontal disease, oral cancer, and other concerns that could be affecting your dental and overall health. Typically performed during twice-yearly dental cleaning visits, dental exams let Dr. Dasha Frias Landa look at the teeth, gums, bite alignment, temporomandibular joints, and other mouth structures to make way for the prompt diagnosis and management of oral issues. Dr. Frias Landa recommends a comprehensive dental exam for patients that are aware they need to address many issues or haven’t checked their mouth for two years or more. In order to keep up with the health and appearance of your smile, schedule a yearly dental exam at our Naples, FL practice.
What to Expect during your Dental Exam
Dental exams at our Naples, FL practice begin with an overview of your medical history. We might also speak with you about any oral issues or cosmetic concerns you have with your smile to learn more about your overall dental wellness. During certain yearly visits, a series of advanced x-rays might be performed to give Dr. Frias Landa more knowledge about the condition of your teeth and oral bone structures. She will then conduct a screening for oral cancer, evaluate the alignment of your bite and jaws, assess your teeth for trauma, and check the condition of any dental appliances. A gum assessment might also be offered to see if you have periodontal disease. |
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Even if you have a great oral hygiene routine at home, it is still important to schedule a professional dental cleaning at Alliance Family Dentistry twice each year. Using state-of-the-art tools, a professional dental cleaning removes plaque and tartar that has built up and then polishes your teeth for a healthier, brighter smile. A dental cleaning will give Dr. Dasha Frias Landa a chance to check for any concerning areas in the mouth that might require extra care. After the exam, the doctor will determine if the patient is a candidate for a healthy mouth cleaning or if a deep cleaning would be necessary due to the advance of potential, existing gum damage. Getting a professional dental cleaning is an important part of maintaining your dental health so schedule an appointment for yourself and your family at our Naples, FL office.
What to Expect from a Dental Cleaning
A professional dental cleaning will begin by addressing the tartar and plaque that have built up on your teeth, which is hard to remove on your own, no matter how often you brush and floss. Special equipment is used to scale buildup without damaging the enamel. To start, an ultrasonic device breaks up bigger chunks of tartar and plaque with a lubricating mist and high-speed vibrations. Next, handheld instruments, such as a curette or scaler, will be used to remove the remaining pieces. Every tooth will be individually scaled to get all the tartar and plaque. After your teeth are clean, your enamel will be polished to remove stains. If needed or requested, a fluoride treatment may be performed following the cleaning. |
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While the best line of defense against cavities is daily brushing and flossing, it can be hard to clean the molars, or the teeth in the back of your mouth. Plaque and bacteria can build up in the crevices of your teeth so Alliance Family Dentistry offers two forms of cavity prevention: fluoride treatments and dental sealants. Fluoride is a mineral found in certain foods and beverages that can be applied to the teeth to strengthen the enamel against bacteria, reducing the chance of a cavity forming. Dental sealants, on the other hand, are thin coatings that can protect the molars from decay. To learn more about these cavity prevention treatments, call our Naples, FL office to book an appointment with Dr. Dasha Frias Landa.
What to Expect from Cavity Prevention Treatment
Professional fluoride treatments are usually done twice a year following your cleaning. We begin the fluoride treatment by applying it to your teeth as a gel, foam or varnish in order to penetrate your enamel and make it stronger and more resistant to cavities. The treatment will be kept on your teeth for up to five minutes so the fluoride can penetrate your enamel, then it can be removed. A suction tool may be used to help remove any excess fluoride since you may not rinse out your mouth, drink, or eat for at least half an hour after. Fluoride treatment can also minor and eliminate teeth sensitivity.
If you choose to get a dental sealant placed, we will polish the enamel and then dry it. Next, a thin coat of sealant will be applied and set with a special light. We recommend not eating sticky or hard foods for a few days to give the sealants time to settle into your molars. |
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