Prevention

No matter how dedicated you are to brushing and flossing at home, routine professional cleanings are crucial. When plaque hardens and turns to tartar (calculus), it can’t be removed with a regular toothbrush. Tartar buildup makes you more susceptible to decay and infection. During a cleaning, one of our licensed dental hygienists, will use specialized instruments to get rid of the tartar, as well as stains and soft plaque. They’ll also floss to address the hard-to-reach places and finish up by polishing your teeth. Your hygienist will evaluate your gums during the cleaning and get a good idea of what can be improved in your homecare routine. You’ll leave our office with a clean that you can’t achieve on your own and your teeth and gums will thank you.

Regular dental exams are the cornerstone of preventative care. They allow us to identify problems in their earliest stages for easier, less invasive treatment. During your exam, one of our knowledgeable, licensed dental hygienists and a general dentist will check for tooth decay and gum disease, evaluate your fillings and sealants, help you create an effective homecare routine and clean your teeth. We also screen you for oral cancer using both a visual examination and our VELScope imaging device, which bathes the mouth in a safe, blue-spectrum light to reveal oral abnormalities that can’t be seen with the naked eye.

Tooth decay is a progressive disease. Whenever we eat or drink, the bacteria in our mouth interact with the sugars and produce an acid that breaks down the minerals in the teeth, eventually forming a cavity. We can remove the decay and fill the space with a tooth-colored filling to restore the tooth to a healthy state. Severe decay can result in nerve damage and often requires a crown to cover and strengthen the tooth. To avoid decay, it’s important to brush twice a day, floss at least once daily, have regular dental checkups and control your diet. The addition of sealants and fluoride treatments can also help. At your appointments, we’ll teach the best way to care for your teeth and gums at home in order to reduce your risk of tooth decay.

The grooves and depressions on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to keep completely free of bacteria and food debris. As we noted, when food and bacteria mix in the mouth, acid is created that breaks down the minerals in the teeth and causes cavities. We offer dental sealants in Naperville at our office to combat this problem. The sealants protect these areas by sealing the grooves and depressions and preventing food and bacteria from taking up residence there. We apply the sealant material to the back teeth, molars and premolars. While they’re especially effective for children, they’re also beneficial for preventing decay in adults.

Much like sealants, fluoride is particularly important for children with developing teeth but it can also aid in the remineralization process for adults, helping to ward off decay. Fluoride is a substance that strengthens the teeth and makes them resistant to decay. Regularly drinking fluoridated water combined with brushing and flossing significantly reduces the risk of cavities. We can give patients fluoride treatments or even supplements if they don’t receive enough in their primary source of drinking water.