Dental Hygiene
Caring for your mouth is just as important as caring for the rest of your body. It’s a big deal!
The most effective and valuablehealth care dollars you will ever spendwill be on prevention!
We often take oral health for granted, but if you think about it, the mouth affects every aspect of our lives. We use our mouths to eat, drink, breathe, and talk. Without a healthy mouth, our quality of life begins to slowly decrease: gum disease can make the soft tissues incredibly sensitive, which can make eating and drinking uncomfortable. Decayed, broken, or missing teeth make it more difficult to eat, so we eat less of the foods that we like and our bodies don’t get the nutrients they need.
These are just some of the problems that can happen when our oral health begins to deteriorate. Everything in the human body works together. We can’t expect to be completely healthy if we are not caring for every part of our bodies.
But there is good news: we know how to keep ourselves feeling healthy and great! We have two wonderful hygienists who are dedicated to helping you keep yourself healthy.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist is someone who specializes in cleaning teeth and maintaining healthy oral tissues. Hygienists undergo extensive training on how to properly care for gums and other soft tissues.
Toothbrushes only reach the parts of the teeth which are visible. Floss can reach 2mm below the gumline. But bacteria can build up on the root surfaces of the teeth as well; right where we can’t normally reach. Hygienists are licensed to clean both above and below the gumline. They use specialized instruments to “scale” calculus build up off the root surfaces of the teeth. This is especially important for those dealing with periodontal disease.
The best thing you can do for yourself in terms of dental care is to see a hygienist regularly! Catching and stopping problems early is always easier and cheaper than dealing with them once they are big. Prevention is key!
If you have not had a cleaning within the last 6 months, please call us!
What’s Necessary for Prevention?
Besides having good hygiene habits, it is important to get a professional cleaning and exam every six months. This will typically include x-rays and intraoral photos. Most insurances will cover at least part of all your preventative care (check with your insurance to see how much it covers).
In our office, a routine hygiene appointment includes:
- A Thorough Cleaning
- A Comprehensive Exam
- We want to make sure nothing is missed! We also want to help you understand any recommended procedures and why they may be necessary.
- X-rays
- 4 bitewing x-rays once annually
- A full-mouth series or panoramic x-ray every 3-5 years (depending on insurance)
- Optional Fluoride Varnish
- We highly recommend getting fluoride at least once per year for adults.
- We recommend more frequent fluoride for kids under 16, but it is still optional.
- Patient Education
- We want you to leave our office feeling confident in your smile and your ability to maintain it! Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have!