To quote Desiderius Erasmus, prevention is better than cure. That is particularly true in dentistry, where study upon study continues to draw connections between oral health and systemic health.
We want to help you keep your teeth healthy so they will last your whole life. That begins with professional cleanings and comprehensive checkups, and includes a variety of other treatment options.
Professional Dental Cleanings
Routine dental cleanings at least twice a year with your dental hygienist go a long way toward keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
Your dental hygienist will use a variety of instruments to remove plaque and tartar deposits from your teeth to help keep decay and gum disease at bay.
The next step is to polish your teeth with a professional grade toothpaste. It is great for helping remove stains caused by foods and beverages such as coffee, tea and wine. The final step is flossing your teeth.
While many patients see us for professional cleanings twice annually, patients with gum disease may require more frequent visits to properly manage their disease.
Comprehensive Dental Exams
A dental exam with one of our Augusta dentists includes a complete set of digital X-rays and an oral cancer screening. Our dentists also check for proper jaw position, and examine your soft and hard tissue for signs of disease or decay.
Digital X-rays
Digital X-rays are a powerful diagnostic tool we use in checking for signs of disease and decay, and in treatment planning. Digital X-rays enable us to eliminate the development time required of traditional X-rays by providing instant images that we display on a computer screen beside our exam chairs for you to see. In addition, digital X-rays have 90 percent less radiation than traditional imaging.
Fluoride Treatments for Children and Adults
Patients of every age can benefit from fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral found in water and in many foods. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making your teeth better able to fight decay-causing acids in foods and beverages. Professional fluoride applications are more concentrated than the fluoride levels in your toothpaste and mouth rinse. They can be applied as a gel, foam or varnish.
Dental Sealants for Children
Dental sealants are a plastic material that we apply to the chewing surfaces of your child’s molars to create a protective barrier against tooth decay. The molars are filled with deep grooves that can capture food. Sealants prevent this from happening by providing years of protection. However, they wear down over time, so it’s important to maintain routine professional checkups so the sealants can be checked and reapplied if necessary.
Dietary Counseling
Your oral health is determined as much by what you eat as how you care for your teeth and gums. It is important to us that our patients understand how dietary choices such as sugar intake and use of xylitol gums play a role in oral health. We are happy to discuss your diet with you and offer recommendations that could improve your oral health.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer screenings are a routine part of our dental exams. Dr. Steven Goldberg and Adam Goldberg carefully examine the mouth and tongue for spots or sores that could be cancerous. Oral cancer can be successfully treated when identified early, which is why we conduct a screening during every routine exam. You can do your part between appointments by watching for changes in your cheeks, gums and tongue. If you detect a sore that doesn’t heal within two weeks, contact our office for an appointment.