Preventive Dentistry – Dyer, IN

Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings

As long as you don’t currently have gum disease or a dental emergency that requires urgent attention, you will normally visit our dental office two times each year, or once every six months. Identifying oral health issues as early as possible – and oftentimes preventing them from ever occurring in the first place – is crucial if you want to keep your natural teeth for your entire life. At the beginning of the checkup, digital X-rays and intraoral photographs may be taken, and we’ll perform a thorough visual examination of the mouth to see if we can spot any problems. Then one of our skilled hygienists will clean your teeth and get rid of the plaque and tartar that has built up on them. The final step is to put together a treatment plan based on what we found.

Fluoride Treatment

You’re probably already well aware that fluoride is considered an important nutrient for keeping the teeth strong and full of cavities. It’s normally ingested through tap water and certain foods. It contributes to the development of primary and adult teeth when you’re young, and in adulthood it helps you maintain a strong, decay-resistant smile. If you’re like many of our patients, you get all the fluoride you need just by brushing your teeth or using a mouth rinse. However, adults who are at an unusually high risk of tooth decay or children who are still learning how to brush properly could benefit from the additional protection of having fluoride professionally applied to the teeth.

TMJ & Bruxism Therapy

Habitual grinding of the teeth at night – also known as bruxism – and TMJ disorders can have various causes, but much of the time a nightguard is an excellent solution regardless of the root of the problem. The oral appliances we provide are customized, unlike the ones you can get at the store, which means they fit more comfortably and provide better protection. A nightguard has two main purposes. First of all, it adjusts the jaw and helps it find a more comfortable resting position, which can help stop bruxism and ease your TMJ pain. Second, it stops the upper and lower teeth from touching each other, thus preventing further wear and tear.

Oral Cancer Screenings

A lot of people mistakenly believe that only tobacco users or people who engage in other high-risk behaviors can be affected by oral cancer – and yet, 30% of oral cancer patients do not fall under this category. The truth is that virtually anyone can suffer from this deadly disease, and it’s a possibility that we need to take very seriously to protect your overall health, which is why an oral cancer screening is included as a regular part of your six-month dental checkups. We will take action if we find any lumps, sores, or discolored patches that could indicate a serious health issue.

Conservative Micro Dentistry

Every single bit of the enamel that makes up your natural teeth is irreplaceable. With conservative micro dentistry, we can save as much of the healthy dental structure as possible during the process of reversing any damage that has occurred. This approach requires us to use the latest state of the art dental techniques and technologies. For example, we use composite resin fillings instead of metal amalgam because it requires fewer changes to the dental structure.

Children’s Dentistry

We’ve worked with children for many years, and we know that they need compassionate treatment from a team that accounts for their unique behavioral needs while they go through the different stages of dental development. You can set up an appointment for your child on the same day as your own visit; that means fewer trips to our dental office and spending less time away from work to ensure that everyone’s individual oral health needs are being met.

Dental Sealants

Even adults can have trouble keeping their molars clean, but the task is especially difficult among children who are still learning how to brush and floss correctly, which is why they tend to be at a higher risk for cavities. We can place a thin plastic coating known as a dental sealant over the molars to stop bacteria and debris from getting caught in the crevices on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. If you have gotten a filling for your molar, you can also benefit from this additional layer of protection.

Digital X-Rays & Intraoral Cameras

We want our patients to feel as involved as possible in their oral healthcare, and digital X-rays and intraoral cameras are a great way to do that, providing helpful visual aids that make it much easier to grasp what the true problem is. The digital nature of these images lets us manipulate them for easier viewing, meaning we can enhance, enlarge, and edit them as needed to highlight the areas where decay and dental damage has occurred. We can then go over the various treatment options and explain how they address the root of the issue.

Family Dentistry

An adult’s dental needs are very different from a child’s, and this leads to many parents having to run between multiple dental offices while juggling various appointments. Thankfully, we can simplify a family’s dental care by seeing everyone in the same location. Our team has experience working with patients of all ages, so we can look after you, your partner, and your children, offering everyone the services they deserve to help you and your loved ones achieve and maintain strong, healthy smiles.