Preventive Dentistry in Arnold Preserves Beautiful Smiles
Preventive dentistry is a key ingredient in your quest for a clean, healthy smile that lasts. In fact, it’s the most important factor in protecting you and your loved ones from cavities, gum disease, and, ultimately, tooth loss. With a checkup and cleaning and additional preventive treatments as needed, your Arnold dental team can stay one step ahead of oral health hazards and help you enjoy a smile you will love to flash for a lifetime to come!
Checkups & Cleanings
Patients of all ages should receive a checkup and cleaning every six months — and sometimes more often for those who are at an increased risk of developing cavities or gum disease. During this routine visit, our hygiene team will thoroughly remove all the plaque and tartar that has had the chance to build up since your last appointment while also checking in on your gum health. Then, your dentist will evaluate your smile health with a tooth-by-tooth exam, and give every patient over the age of 18 an oral cancer exam.
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Dental Sealants
Children are at an increased risk of developing cavities before their tooth enamel has fully hardened. The back teeth, with their pitted and grooved surface, are especially vulnerable to decay. To help, your dentist may recommend dental sealants. They are a thin layer of translucent material that is applied directly to the surface of the molars and premolars where they act as a shield to protect the enamel from decay-causing sugars and bacteria.
Nightguards for TMJ/Bruxism
If you grind your teeth at night (a condition known as “bruxism”), a nightguard can protect your tooth enamel and jaw joints (known as the TMJ) from wear and tear and reduce the associated issues that are likely to occur, such as tooth sensitivity, an increased risk of tooth decay, chronic jaw pain, and even migraine headaches. A nightguard from our office is custom-fitted to your unique dentition, ensuring total comfort when it is worn, as well as maximum protection against the harmful effects of nighttime teeth grinding.
Custom Athletic Mouthguards
For active Arnold children, teens, and adults, custom athletic mouthguards are an essential tool for protecting smiles. Dental injuries are very common for people of all ages who play sports and lead very active lifestyles, and a customized athletic mouthguard will offer comfortable, reliable protection while not inhibiting performance.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Rates of oral cancer are rising in the United States and around the world, and too many adults remain unaware of the need for routine oral cancer screenings. It is a quick exam your dentist can perform at the end of a checkup and cleaning — and getting one routinely can greatly increase the likelihood of successful treatment if you do develop oral cancer. Every adult will receive an oral cancer screen at each routine exam, free of charge.
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Periodontal Therapy
Gum disease is characterized by bleeding, red, tender gums, persistent bad breath, and other unpleasant symptoms. It affects the majority of patients over the age of 35 — and its effects can be far-reaching. While there is no “cure” for gum disease, your Arnold dentist can help you manage this chronic condition with periodontal therapy. Scaling and root planing or gum therapy is a non-surgical treatment for moderate levels of gum disease, and it may be combined with antibiotic therapy for full healing.
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Fluoride Treatments
The benefits of fluoride for oral health are well-documented, and that’s why the mineral is in all toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel to help reverse the weak spots that will eventually turn into cavities. With a topical fluoride treatment applied at the end of a checkup and cleaning, we can help protect your teeth against the acids, sugars, and bacteria that your smile encounters every day in the months between dental visits.
Emergency Dentistry
You can’t plan for dental emergencies — that’s why they are called emergencies to begin with. However, you can improve the outcome by being prepared to call your emergency dentist as soon as one happens to you or someone you love. For a knocked out tooth, toothache, broken filling or crown, or anything else that just doesn’t feel quite right, know you can call our office for the expert and attentive care you need right away.
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Children’s Dentistry
Children’s smiles require special attention from a dentist who is specially trained to care for little teeth. Routine checkups should begin around age one or when those first little teeth are starting to come in. At JL Dental, we take a friendly, warm approach that little ones love — because positive impressions of the dentist’s office from a young age are important to start your child off on the road to a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles!