PREVENTATIVE DENTAL CARE in baton rouge
Preventive Dentistry
Teeth Cleaning
Regular teeth cleaning appointments are the basis of preventative care for all patients. During an appointment, all plaque and tartar are removed from your teeth by a dental professional. This helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease so your smile stays looking great.
Your dentists in Baton Rouge, LA, recommend regular teeth cleaning appointments twice a year to help keep your mouth healthy and your smile looking beautiful!
Fluoride
Dental fluoride is a key component in maintaining healthy teeth. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities by making the tooth enamel more resistant to acid. It also helps to remineralize the enamel, which can be damaged by acid or abrasion. In addition, fluoride can help to reduce the halftime of existing cavities. For these reasons, dental fluoride is an important part of keeping your teeth healthy. You can get dental fluoride from many sources, including toothpaste, mouthwash, and fluoridated water.
Oral Cancer Screening
An oral cancer screening is a simple, quick, and painless procedure that can be performed by your dentist or hygienist. During the screening, they will visually examine your mouth, tongue, and lips for any signs of cancer. They may also feel around your neck to check for lumps or anything else that feels abnormal.
If they find anything suspicious, they will refer you to a specialist for further testing. Oral cancer screenings are important because they can help to catch cancer early, when it is most treatable.
Dental Sealants
The pits and grooves of your teeth are prime areas for opportunistic decay. Even regular brushing sometimes misses some of these intricate structures on the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Enter sealants, which are thin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces designed to prevent the intrusion of bacteria and other debris into the deep crevices on the tops of your teeth.
Sealants actually were developed about 50 years ago, but didn't become commonly used until the 1970s. Today, sealants are becoming widely popular and effective; young children are great candidates for preventative measures like sealants because in many cases, decay has not set in.
Sealants are applied by first cleaning the tooth surface. The procedure is followed by etching the tooth with an abrasive substance, which allows the sealant to better adhere. After the sealant is applied, a warm light source is directed to the site to promote faster drying. Sealants usually need re-application every five to 10 years.
