Your teeth and gums are a huge part of your overall health. Poor oral conditions have been linked to diabetes, leukemia, oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, heart disease and kidney disease.
Keeping your smile healthy requires good dental hygiene habits and regular dental visits. These 5 essential services can help you maintain a great smile for years to come!
1. Dental Cleanings
Dental cleanings are essential for a healthy smile, and they can help keep your teeth sparkling white. Regular tooth cleanings remove hardened plaque and tartar that can hide and protect oral bacteria.
Oral bacteria consume sugar and turn it into acid, which causes cavities and gum disease. When left unchecked, these bacteria can spread throughout your body and contribute to other serious health conditions.
Fortunately, you can prevent many of these issues by establishing and following an at-home oral hygiene routine, including visiting the dentist for regular checkups.
However, a thorough at-home oral care routine alone will not provide full protection against tooth decay and gum disease. A combination of at-home oral care and professional dental cleanings are the best way to ensure that your teeth stay clean and healthy for a lifetime.
2. Dental Exams
During a dental exam, the dentist and hygienist will check for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. They will also look at your mouth, jaw, and neck to make sure that everything is in order.
This exam is vital for good oral health, and it can help catch problems before they get worse. Problems like gum disease or cavities are easier to treat early, and they can be less costly as well.
X-rays are also often taken during the dental exam, to show the dentist what’s below your gum line. They can also be used to detect bone loss, tooth development issues, and other common problems that go unnoticed by the human eye.
3. Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal treatment is a key component of your oral health routine. It can help keep your gums healthy and prevent or slow down the development of tooth decay, gum disease, and other serious dental problems.
It also helps to maintain good overall health because there is a link between gum disease and other serious health conditions such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, respiratory disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Mild gum disease, or gingivitis, can be reversed by diligent home care and increased frequency of professional cleanings. More severe cases of gum disease, called periodontitis, are much more complicated and require specialized dental treatments.
4. Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is a relatively modern dental procedure that can save your infected tooth. It is a painless and effective treatment that helps you maintain your natural teeth and prevents the need for costly procedures such as tooth extraction or dental implants.
A root canal is needed when the pulp within a tooth becomes infected, usually as a result of extensive dental decay or damage. This infection can lead to a tooth abscess, pulp death and loss of the tooth itself.
A local anesthetic is used to numb the infected tooth and surrounding gum. The dentist will also place a rubber dam to protect your mouth and keep saliva away from the infected area while the treatment is carried out.
5. Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most advanced tooth replacement option available. They mimic the look, feel, and function of natural teeth.
Implants are surgically placed into your jaw bone, where they fuse to the bone, which gives them stability and reliability comparable to that of natural teeth.
When placed into a jaw that has lost bone, they can also help generate new bone growth in the area where they are placed. This process, called osseointegration, can prevent future bone loss.
If you have a missing or misaligned tooth, dental implants can be the solution to restoring your smile and improving your self-confidence. It can be a big decision, so it’s important to know all the facts.
