Our team is ready to help families in our community enjoy optimal oral health. We want to ensure every member of your family, from the youngest to the oldest, avoid poor oral health and discomfort. In today’s blog, your Virginia Beach, VA, dentist is talking in detail about our approach to family dentistry.
Dental Checkups
The journey to better oral health for all ages begins with a dental checkup. The exam is a major part of family dentistry, and a chance for our team to assess the state of your oral health, and to identify the risk of concerns that could threaten your smile. In addition to a visual exam by the dentist, we will use digital x-rays and intraoral cameras to take detailed images of the smile from multiple angles, so we can diagnose the earliest stages of cavities, infections, and gingivitis in kids, teens, and adults. For grownups, we also screen for oral cancer and watch for gum disease. We also look for indicators of TMJ disorder and bruxism. For teens, we will assess the risk of wisdom tooth eruption, and could extract them to protect the smile. For kids, we will look for possible complications that could lead to misalignment later in life.
Dental Cleanings
In the same family dental visit, our team will also conduct a dental cleaning. The cleaning is essential for kids and adults alike, and involves the use of an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently but thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar buildup. By doing so, we lower the risk of future concerns, like tooth decay and gum disease. We also fight bad breath and limit the risk for teeth stains. When we’re done, we polish the teeth for a brighter appearance and a smoother surface. Brushing and flossing at home help limit how much plaque can accumulate until we see you for a professional dental cleaning.
Perio Cleanings
If you have high risk factors for gum disease, or exhibit the early warning signs, such as soreness and redness in the gums, and bleeding when you brush and floss, then you may need more than a simple dental cleaning. A perio cleaning, also known as a scaling and root planing, involves our team removing buildup with the same devices, but from the roots as well as the teeth. Depending on the severity of the buildup, this could take one visit or up to four. We will numb your smile to keep you comfortable, and polish the teeth afterward too. This can reverse gingivitis or help manage gum disease to prevent your smile from developing the late stages linked to adult tooth loss. Family dentistry can help you maintain a complete smile!
TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder is a widespread concern that occurs when the joints connecting your jaw and skull become strained. This stress could be brought on by injury to the face or jaw, issues with the growth of your smile and the eruption of your teeth, or factors like tooth loss, malocclusion, and teeth grinding. The disorder makes it hard to fully open and close your mouth, and causes discomfort, such as headaches, migraines, jaw and facial pain, popping or clicking in the jaw, and aches in the neck and shoulders. When you experience these warning signs, let us know. As part of our approach to family dentistry, we can offer relief with a custom oral appliance. Created based on impressions taken of your smile, the device looks and fits like a mouthguard, and is worn as you rest. The appliance repositions the jaw to ease strain and stress on your joints.
Stopping Teeth Grinding
Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, can damage your teeth and leave them vulnerable to tooth decay and infection. As part of our approach to family dentistry, we can offer an oral appliance to reposition the jaw and ease strain, while also placing a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent further damage to the smile.
Improving How Patients Sleep
What if you feel tired during the day and suffer from chronic snoring? This could be due to sleep apnea! To prevent issues with your daily life, and avoid strain on your immune system and heart health, we need to treat your sleep disorder. Fortunately, we have a comfortable oral appliance that keeps airways open so you rest without interruption and don’t snore.
If you have any questions about family dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk to Your Virginia Beach, VA, Dentist About Family Dentistry
With an initial visit for a checkup and cleaning, your family can start a journey to a better smile! Call Absolute Dental Care in Virginia Beach, VA at 757-428-7440 to schedule an appointment for your loved ones soon!
