Monday
From 9:00am – 6:00pm
Many dental procedures involve restoration of the teeth as well as treatment for oral conditions. While restorative procedures such as fillings, bridges and crowns help to restore function and aesthetics, they do not last forever. Treatments such as gum disease only help to prevent further degradation. However, once the process of bone loss around the teeth has begun, it cannot be reversed. At Timothy A. Hess DDS PLLC, we believe that the best way to achieve a healthy smile is through prevention. We provide regular dental check-up Auburn services that are aimed at helping patients avoid the irreversible degradation that comes with many oral health problems.
What is Preventative Dentistry?
Preventive dentistry is dental care that is aimed at maintaining good oral health. Our preventative dentistry Auburn services involve regular dental check-up Auburn services alongside advising our patients on maintaining good oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing daily. Our preventive dental services Auburn include:
Dental prophylaxis
This procedure is commonly referred to as dental cleaning. These services are offered as part of our annual dental checkup Auburn services. This cleaning is done to get rid of tartar and plaque that accumulates on and in-between our teeth over time. While flossing and brushing daily are effective to keeping the buildup down, they are inadequate methods to clean the debris off the teeth completely. We use specialized instruments to clean the gums and teeth thoroughly for optimum health. Our cleaning will also include a full mouth periodontal charting to identify minute changes in your gingival health. This ensures that any necessary interventions can be made.
OFFICE HOURS
* Open every other Thursday
Periodontal Therapy
Periodontitis results in progressive bone loss that is irreversible. Therefore the best way to deal with periodontitis is by preventing its development in the first place. Our preventive dental care Auburn services are aimed at getting rid of the plaque and bacteria that result in the development of periodontitis.
We apply a preventative dentistry Auburn treatment known as scaling and root planing. This treatment is usually completed in two separate appointments. Half of the mouth is treated in each appointment. The treatment involved debriding the surfaces of the teeth of bacteria and plaque. This effectively halts the progression of the disease.
Fluoride
We also offer fluoride treatments as part of our preventive dental care Auburn. While fluoride is an ingredient in many toothpastes today, our treatment is particularly effective in preventing dental decay. The fluoride is applied to the teeth and allowed to sit for approximately 30 seconds. This ensures that bacteria are killed and remineralization of the teeth occurs. Our delivery method ensures that fluoride becomes embedded in the teeth. This makes it difficult for the teeth to demineralize and develop cavities. This treatment helps strengthen the teeth and make them more resistant to decay.
Sealants
These are effective for preventing decay. They are especially effective for children. Our preventive dental services in Auburn involve the installation of a plastic sealant over the ridges of the teeth. This will prevent food from becoming impacted and thereby prevent tooth decay.
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF)
This is one of the most effective ways to treat tooth decay where dental restoration is not feasible. It involves the application of a blue liquid in areas of decay. This initiates remineralization and stops the progression of the decay. The process takes less than a minute and can be done without anesthetic.
How Often Should I Undergo General Checkups and Cleanings?
It is advisable to seek a dental checkup in Auburn once or twice a year. With preventive dental care, you can avoid many of the irreversible problems experienced by many people.