Breese Dental Care
Highland Dental Care
Preventative Dentistry in Breese Illinois & Highland Illinois
One of the more important aspects of a successful dental care routine is preventative dentistry. Breese Dental Care and Highland Dental Care provide preventative dentistry to help you take a proactive approach to avoid damaging conditions like tooth decay or gum disease. This means undergoing routine checkups regarding your dental hygiene, dental sealants, periodontal treatment, laser therapy and x-rays to help ensure that your dental care is at its peak performance and as a result, limiting your chance of a damaged smile. There are different things you can do to limit your chance of developing cavities, our dentists recommend:
Brush your teeth (at least) twice a day and floss. Soft-bristled toothbrushes and a fluoridated toothpaste are your best options for healthy, beautiful teeth.
Ask your dentist about dental sealants and fluoride treatments to learn how they could help improve your smile.
Keep a balanced diet and don’t go overboard with sugary or acidic foods.
Schedule routine teeth cleaning and dental exams at least twice a year.
Checkups and Hygiene
A proper dental hygiene routine helps prevent common issues like tooth decay and gum disease. At your routine checkup, we will educate you on areas of your mouth that may need more attention at home to help avoid problems. If your teeth seem to be prone to cavities, we may prescribe a toothpaste that helps protect and strengthen your teeth. When scheduling a checkup with Breese Dental Care or Highland Dental Care, our focus is on improving your oral care, but it doesn’t stop at our office, the rest is up to you having a consistent routine regarding oral hygiene at home.
Dental Sealants
Most teeth have deep pits and grooves that bacteria and food fragments like to nest in which can lead to decay. Children who have poor oral hygiene can be susceptible to decay on hard-to-reach molars. When this happens, dental sealants are recommended to help keep your molars and premolars protected from tooth decay. Dental sealants are recognized by the American Dental Association as a key treatment for cavity prevention.
Dental sealants are thin plastic films that are directly applied to your teeth. First, our dentists will identify and fill any areas of decay, then prepare your teeth with a cleaning solution and etching solution.
After a short period, we rinse the solution and dry the surface, coat your teeth with the sealant, and use a curing light in order to harden it. This is a fast and effective process that can range from 10 to 45 minutes, depending on how many dental sealants we have to do.
Periodontal Treatment
Gum disease is usually caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. If plaque is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth, gums become irritated and inflamed. The irritated gum tissue can separate from the teeth and form spaces called pockets. Bacteria move into the pockets where they continue to promote irritation. Left untreated, the process can continue until the bone and other tooth-supporting tissues are destroyed. The early stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. It often results in gums that are red and swollen and may bleed easily.
X-Rays
Breese Dental Care and Highland Dental Care use state-of-the-art digital X-rays and digital cameras to help with an accurate diagnosis of any concerns. Digital X-rays use less radiation to get a diagnostic picture of your teeth and they help the environment by eliminating the use of chemicals to process the film.
Dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a special type of x-ray equipment used when regular dental or facial x-rays are not sufficient. Cone beam CT provides detailed three-dimensional (3-D) images of your teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways and bone in a single scan. This scan helps the doctor to evaluate disease of the jaw, dentition, and bony structures of the face, nasal cavity, and sinuses.
