Preventive Dentistry

Your dentist will review your medical history to see if there are any dental implications. Your mouth is the entryway to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is often involved in conditions that affect the GI tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Early symptoms may arise in the mouth, which may be detected during your dental visit.

Not only is bad breath embarrassing, but it may also be a sign of an oral health problem that needs to be addressed, such as gum disease. Chronic halitosis is often the result of poor dental hygiene such as not brushing and flossing often enough. If food particles are left behind in your mouth, they can combine with bacteria to emit a foul odor. When brushing your teeth, you should be sure to clean your tongue as well. If you are concerned about bad breath, our preventative dentistry services can help determine the cause and treat it appropriately.

Oral cancer can occur on the lips, tongue, gums, or other tissues inside of the mouth. The early stages of oral cancer may not cause pain and go unnoticed. Visible signs of oral cancer include a sore or irritation that does not heal or go away.

At myDental, we will look for signs of oral cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth at each visit. The earlier oral cancer is detected, the greater your chances are to be cured. If we find anything suspicious, we will refer you to a specialist for further assessment and treatment.

Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, can cause your gums to bleed or become swollen, tender, or infected. Once infected, the gum starts to separate from the tooth, creating a pocket. Over time these pockets can deepen, increasing your risk of tooth loss. Gum disease can also lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory problems.

In our office, periodontal assessment is an essential part of your oral health care. When you come in for a routine cleaning, we will evaluate the health of your gums. The earlier gum disease is detected, the easier it is to treat.

Dental caries is another term for cavities, or tooth decay. Cavities are caused by excessive bacteria in the mouth and the formation of plaque, which results from eating and drinking too many sugary foods and drinks, and not cleaning your teeth well. The longer a cavity goes untreated, the more damage it can do, including causing a severe toothache, infection, and tooth loss.

At myDental, preventative dentistry involves X-rays and intraoral cameras to detect and show patients any cavities that are present. We also assess your risk for developing cavities, which enables us to control the level of bacteria in the mouth and prevent cavities from forming or progressing.

Your chewing teeth contain grooves that can trap food particles and plaque, especially grooves that are deep. Many times brushing and flossing may miss these food particles, which is why we recommend sealants. Dental sealants are an acrylic coating that is applied to the deep grooves of your chewing teeth to seal them and protect the enamel from plaque and acids. They are typically applied preventatively to reduce or eliminate tooth decay. While anyone may benefit from sealants, we routinely recommend them in young children. Sealants typically last several years before a reapplication is needed.

Fluoride is the most effective method for preventing tooth decay. Applying fluoride to the teeth strengthens them and makes them more resistant to decay. myDental uses fluoride in our preventative dentistry services for both adults and children in order to fortify teeth and help prevent cavities.

We often see patients with chronic jaw pain, known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. Our dentists can evaluate, diagnose, and treat TMJ. If TMJ abnormalities are affecting your quality of life, we can prescribe pain relieving, anti-inflammatory medications and recommend a specialist, if necessary.