General Dentistry Dallas
General dentistry services, including professional teeth cleanings, routine dental exams, and other preventive treatments, are the foundation of a healthy smile. In many cases, these general dentistry services can prevent oral diseases or at least limit their effects. At a minimum, patients should see their dentist every six months for exams and cleanings. Patients who tend to accumulate plaque and tartar more quickly may want to schedule more frequent cleanings.
At Kozlow and Rowell Dentistry, we recognize that a healthy mouth is a gateway to a healthy body, and we take a holistic approach to dental care that considers the systemic effects of treatment. We work to promote optimal wellness as an important component of our general dentistry services.
Preventive Dental Care Services
Preventive dental care can involve various services, including:
- Professional teeth cleaning: A hygienist will use professional-grade instruments to remove plaque and tartar from all surfaces of the teeth.
- Dental exams: Your dentist will inspect the teeth, looking for signs of issues like tooth decay or gum disease. We use a special cavity detection tool called Carivu that uses light rather than x-rays to identify areas of decay.
- Oral hygiene check: Your hygienist or dentist will assess your home oral hygiene practices to make sure that they are sufficient.
- Gum treatment: When bacteria have attacked the gum tissue, causing inflammation, ozone therapy can be used to eliminate those bacteria and help to treat resulting gum disease.
At your checkup, your dentist also will monitor for signs of oral cancer, which has a very poor prognosis when diagnosed in advanced stages. Catching oral cancer early can be a life-saving effect of preventive dental care.
Value Of Routine Dental Care
The types of routine dental services described above keep your smile in good condition, which means that it’s more attractive. However, that only touches the surface of the value that such services provide.
For patients who want to avoid costly and invasive dental treatments, preventive care is essential. When your dentist is examining your teeth every six months, it’s much more likely that an issue will be discovered when it is minor and can be treated easily.
Delaying routine dental care can lead to significant issues, such as large cavities or advanced gum disease that can cause tooth loss. Ultimately, it’s in your best interest to see your dentist every six months and avoid those outcomes.
A Holistic Approach To Oral Health Care
Kozlow and Rowell Dentistry appreciate the systemic effects of dental care and treatment, as well as the important contributions that a healthy mouth makes to a healthy body.
Many patients don’t recognize the relationships between the condition of their smile and the rest of their body. Did you realize that gum disease is correlated with health issues like diabetes and heart disease? This is one example of how oral health risk factors can have cascading effects.
Clearly, preventive dental care benefits your entire body!
Furthermore, we work to use the safest treatment methods possible for patients to reduce the negative effects of dental treatment throughout the body.
For example, our preventive services are fluoride-free. We recognize that many patients have reservations about the potential negative effects of fluoride and we can accommodate those concerns.
We also use non-toxic materials for restorations, so that patients can get mercury-free fillings and BPA-free crowns. This approach also benefits your entire body by limiting the effects of potentially harmful substances.
FAQ’s
Why should I go to the dentist regularly?
Seeing your dentist at least twice a year for checkups and cleanings results in a number of benefits. First of all, this routine care helps to keep your smile as clean as possible and minimize the presence of harmful oral bacteria. Furthermore, when your dentist is checking your smile at regular intervals, it’s much more likely that any oral diseases will be identified early in the disease process when treatments can be more conservative and effective.
How often should I brush and floss?
Patients should brush twice each day and floss daily. Remember that your technique matters, and if you’re not brushing or flossing effectively, you won’t get the maximum benefits from your oral hygiene practices. Make sure that each brushing session lasts for two minutes, and use a brush that is in good condition. Angle your brush along the gumline to disrupt plaque formation. Take the extra time to floss along the gumline, as well.
What if I have a dental emergency?
Dental emergencies can happen at any time and typically warrant immediate attention. Kozlow and Rowell Dentistry accept emergency appointments, and we will schedule you as soon as possible if you are experiencing severe toothache symptoms, damage to a tooth or some other urgent issue. Call our office to schedule an emergency appointment. If your dental emergency is occurring after hours and doesn’t rise to the level of requiring an emergency room visit, you can call our answering service to reach the on-call staff member who can give you guidance about how to proceed until you can be seen at our office.
How often should I have a cleaning?
Patients should have a professional tooth cleaning every six months. This care is necessary even if you are conscientious about your home oral hygiene routine. It’s nearly impossible to clean all of the surfaces of your teeth thoroughly on your own, and a hygienist can access some areas of your smile more easily than you can at home.