Preventive Care for the Family
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Child Hygiene Recare
Even though your child’s baby teeth won’t stay with them long, it’s still extremely important that they are taken care of--along with their entire mouth. Keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy now will help prevent more serious problems in the future. Your child’s recare appointment will follow the same three stages as an adult’s appointment:  Diagnostic, Preventive, and Education. We know that a lot of children may not like going to the dentist, so we try to make the appointment as fun and engaging as possible.

Adult Hygiene Recare
Recare is a lot more than just a teeth cleaning and routine checkup. Think of it as a one-stop appointment for thoroughly examining your entire mouth . There are three steps in this process:  Diagnostic, Preventive, and Education. During the Diagnostic stage, we will go over every inch of your mouth to discover any dental issues that are present or in early development. This includes taking x-rays, examining your teeth for decay or cavities, checking for periodontal disease, looking for any cracks or fractures, and screening for oral cancer and sleep-related breathing disorder. This is also the perfect opportunity for you to point out any discomfort or ask questions about your smile.

The Preventive stage is all about professionally cleaning your teeth by removing plaque and tartar that have built up on your teeth. If this stays on your teeth for too long, it will destroy your enamel, which is why it is important to visit us for a professional cleaning at least every six months, if not more frequently. When you come to see us, we want you to learn, too, during the Education stage, because knowing more about your oral health will encourage you to take measures to stay healthy. We will show you what’s going on inside your mouth with our intraoral camera and go over important brushing and flossing tips. If you have questions about anything, we’ll be happy to have an in-depth discussion.

Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer kills about one person every hour. This is a serious condition that requires an early diagnosis to treat effectively and increase your chances of recovery. An oral cancer screening is a thorough examination of the oral cavity for any visible signs of lesions or sores which might be indicative of the presence of cancer. The goal of a screening is to diagnose the presence of cancer early enough to maximize the effects of treatment.

OralID is an innovative new technology that allows dentists to diagnose several conditions much quicker than in years past. The OralID device uses a fluorescent light that can highlight abnormal tissue in the oral cavity. Using OralID, we can detect the early signs of oral cancer before it has a chance to spread because the light can help us see irregularities that can’t be seen with the naked eye. During Oral Cancer Awareness Month in April, this service is complimentary at the hygiene recare visit.

Images

Dentists want to provide the best possible dental care to their patients, but a visual examination doesn't tell them everything they need to know. Thanks to dental X-rays, dentists can accurately diagnose and treat dental problems early before they become more serious. And if after examining your mouth and reviewing these images, your dentist finds no cavities or growth issues, you can rest assured he or she has seen the whole picture.

Valuable Diagnostic Tool

X-rays, also called radiographs, give your dentist the ability to see between and inside your teeth. He can also view the tip of your roots and bone underneath your gums – places not normally visible to the naked eye. Although they are used as part of a routine examination to rule out dental disease, X-rays also aid your dentist in diagnosing any specific or isolated dental problems you might be experiencing. Radiographs are used to check for cavities and evaluate the extent of decay. And because some X-rays show the root of the tooth, the presence of any cysts, abscesses and other masses can be diagnosed. Congenitally missing or impacted teeth such as wisdom teeth are often identified this way, and the presence and extent of bone loss due to periodontal disease is easily seen through dental X-rays as well.

Types of X-rays

Bitewing, periapical and panoramic radiographs are the most common X-rays used in the dental office. During routine exams, your dentist may take two to four bitewing x-rays – which show the crown portions of your teeth – to check for early signs of decay between your teeth. When he wants to get a good look at your teeth's bone height or root tips, periapical X-rays provide the best view. A panoramic X-ray is taken from outside of your mouth and produces an image of the entire oral cavity on one large X-ray. Because the image shows all of the teeth, as well as the upper and lower jaws and sinus areas, this type of X-ray can identify impaction, cysts, tumors, jaw disorders and bone irregularities.

How Often Are X-rays Needed?

Everyone's oral health varies, and as a result, the dentist will evaluate your needs and recommend an X-ray schedule accordingly. If you're a new patient, the dentist may advise taking a full series of X-rays or panoramic image to assess your current oral health state and use this as a baseline going forward.

Dental X-rays Safety

Because X-ray machines and other sources of dental radiographs are designed to minimize radiation, these processes are safe, and your exposure is negligible. Many offices, in fact, are now using digital X-rays, which further reduces radiation exposure. At Humphries Dental, we use a lead collar to protect the thyroid. Always let your dentist know if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing regularly are important home care practices that safeguard your dental health. However, dental checkups and routine X-rays are also necessary for a healthy mouth and to ensure that you keep your teeth picture perfect for a lifetime.

Periodontal Therapy

Gum or periodontal disease can have a serious negative impact on your overall health. When your gums become inflamed from plaque, they form deeper pockets which over time can cause permanent bone loss. Once plaque finds its way into these pockets, it will be impossible to remove it through brushing. Some other common symptoms include bleeding gums, tooth pain, constant bad breath, and loose teeth.

To treat gum disease, we use non-surgical periodontal therapy called scaling and root planing which will stop the disease from spreading. The hygienist, certified in diode laser therapy, will remove the disease-causing bacteria from your teeth and gums. In extreme cases, we may need to refer to a specialist called a periodontist for surgical treatment.

Fluoride

Fluoride is one of the most effective methods of giving your teeth what they need to prevent and fight tooth decay along with helping to desensitize your teeth. Fluoride is also an effective defense against the acid residue from plaque, bacteria, and sugar. When children start growing their permanent teeth, using fluoride helps protect the teeth and reinforce the mineralization of newly erupted teeth.

Sealants

Dental sealants are a preventive treatment to help prevent tooth decay by protecting the biting surface of your teeth. Sealants are an effective treatment for adults and children alike. Children can especially benefit from this treatment as they are prone to developing cavities in the grooves of their teeth. A combination of dental sealants and fluoride treatments can protect your temporary and permanent teeth from cavities and save you money in future treatments.

Adjunctive Services

There is an established systemic link between oral health and general health.  It’s more important than ever for you to use the right oral health care products to achieve optimum health.

We recommend OraCare Health Rinse as a part of your routine home care for gum problems, dry mouth, braces (or other hard to clean areas), or bad breath. There’s no burning, no staining, and no sulfates. OraCare tastes great and has helped thousands of patients!

Join our Diamond Club! Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush delivers unbeatable performance, giving you a month’s worth of manual brushing in just two minutes. Its advanced technology and sonic brush strokes gently and effectively remove plaque to improve gum health. When you purchase a DiamondClean Smart from Humphries Dental, you are automatically enrolled in our DiamondClub and will receive a complimentary brush head replacement at your professional hygiene recare visits.

Are You Looking for Preventive Care for the Family in Bay City, Texas?

Why spend time worrying about hiding your teeth when we can give you the smile of your dreams? Contact Humphries Dental today at 979.245.6541 to make an appointment!