You might call me bossy. But when it comes to the mouth-body connection, I’m not messing around. I know for a fact that having an unhealthy mouth will lead to an unhealthy body. So many people are walking around sick these days. They have inflammation, heart problems, difficulty with diabetes, even cancer — and their problems started because of gum disease or another infection in their mouths. Even kids have periodontal disease. I’ve seen it.

I won’t go into all the details about c-reactive proteins and biofilms, but I will say this: General dentistry is about more than getting your teeth cleaned a couple of times a year or having a cavity filled. It is about being healthy — smile, body, and spirit.

My office is full of advanced diagnostic technology, and my team is fully trained to use it. This makes every visit for a cleaning or a checkup an opportunity to even the smallest dental problem, prevent any new damage from happening, and restore your smile to it’s best health.

I’m here to get — and keep — your smile healthy and whole

But even if I do get a little worked up about helping you stay healthy, I promise I won’t yell at you, embarrass you, or question you. I wouldn’t want someone doing that to me! We’ll just talk about your options and work together to get you back on track toward health. Maybe I’m not so bossy after all.

Our office offers regular dental exams and cleanings for people of all ages.

Services include:

  • Fluoride treatments
  • Sealants to protect children’s molars from cavities and decay
  • Gentle teeth cleaning using our comfortable ultrasonic water pulse technology
  • Tooth colored restorations, including resin fillings and custom ceramic onlays
  • Metal-free dentistry for stronger, healthier restorations and biocompatible materials

We conduct a complete oral exam each year. These exams include a thorough cleaning, periodontal (gum) evaluation, fluoride treatment, oral cancer screening, intra-oral camera imaging, and digital x-rays.

This annual, comprehensive assessment of your oral health allows us to stay on top of any issues; if problems develop, we detect them while they’re small and easy and affordable to restore. We can also be alerted to any changes in your overall health.

Intraoral Cameras

We always use an intraoral camera. These tiny cameras allow us to see magnified images of your mouth, in real time. This not only let’s you see what is happening in your mouth right along with me, it also allows me to see changes over time and potentially nip problems in the bud. It’s a big component of our conservative approach.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, over 45,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. Of those more than 45,000 newly-diagnosed individuals, just over half will be alive in 5 years. This number has not significantly improved in decades.

The good news is that most cancers of the mouth can be cured if caught early. Our team conducts oral cancer screenings at every regular exam, when studies show that barely 30% of dental offices do it even yearly. They also recommend that you conduct monthly exams at home. If you detect any of the following signs or symptoms in your mouth, on your gums, tongue or lips, please contact your dentist immediately.

Oral Cancer Symptoms:

  • White or velvety red patches that will not rub off or heal
  • Sores or swelling that last longer than 2-3 weeks
  • Repeated bleeding with no apparent cause
  • Numbness or pain in any area
  • Difficulty in chewing, swallowing, or moving your tongue or jaw.
  • A mouth sore that bleeds easily, or fails to heal

Oral Cancer Risk Factors:

  • Smoking
  • The use of smokeless tobacco (especially when used in combination with alcohol)
  • Gender – oral cancers are about twice as common in men as in women
  • Ultraviolet light (cancers of the lip)
  • Poor nutrition
  • HPV (human papilloma viruses)

We use the most advanced technology available to examine and diagnose. Why? Our advanced technology protects your health and lets us find problems before they more difficult and costly to address.

Digital X-Rays

Digital x-rays benefit both our team and our patients. Most importantly, digital x-rays significantly decrease the exposure time to radiation. With a digital x-ray, we take a picture of your teeth, then immediately see it on a computer monitor. This large, color-enhanced image lets us get a better picture of your oral health, allowing for earlier treatment. This process is also better for the environment as it doesn’t use photo chemicals and traditional film, thus eliminating waste.

More than cleanings, hygiene visits allow our team to thoroughly examine your mouth, and stop any problems in their tracks.

During your hygiene appointment, your teeth will be cleaned, digital x-rays will be taken (to detect any problems while they’re in their early stages), your mouth will be screened for oral cancer, and your gums will be measured for periodontal disease.

Thanks to our advanced technology, your cleanings are amazingly comfortable thorough. We use ultrasonic scalers like the Cavitron and the Piezo. These state-of-the-art instruments use oscillating sound waves to gently vibrate the tartar away from your teeth removing it both above and below the gum line. These ultrasonic units are so gentle they can even be used to administer deep cleanings and gum therapy. Many first time hygiene patients tell us their teeth feel cleaner than ever before!

Gum health is more important than ever. Recent studies have linked periodontal (gum) disease to an increased chance of heart disease, stroke, some cancers including pancreatic cancer, complications of diabetes, and preterm or low birth-weight in babies.

You may have periodontal disease and not even know it. There often are no symptoms. Gums can recede, leaving teeth vulnerable to decay, abscesses and tooth loss – all without any bleeding or tenderness. But many people have at least minor symptoms…

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease Include:

  • Bleeding when brushing or flossing
  • Puffiness or tenderness of the gums
  • Halitosis (bad breath)
  • Loose-feeling teeth

Diagnosis
During your regular hygiene exam, Laura and Linda will measure the gum tissue around each tooth to assess any periodontal deterioration. Digital x-rays may also be taken to reveal any bone loss around your teeth. If periodontal disease is diagnosed, a variety of treatments are available to treat the disease, and even reverse it.

Treatment
A variety of new technologies make the treatment of this disease more thorough and comfortable than ever before.

High-tech soft tissue lasers can gently remove any damaged or diseased gum tissue and kill any bacteria below the gum line.

Ultrasonic scalers use pulses of water to comfortably remove any bacteria or calculus under the gum line and around the tooth root.

Antibiotic treatment kills bacteria over time. Powerful antibiotics, like ARESTIN, were created just for periodontal bacteria and can be placed under the gum line to fight periodontal disease long after you leave the office.

The good news is that periodontal disease is treatable, even at an advanced stage, to help you keep your teeth and improve your health.

Home Care
Good oral hygiene is important. You should brush at least two to three times a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Daily flossing, fluoride rinses, and an oral irrigator also are important. These preventive measures in combination with your in-office treatment should have your mouth restored to perfect health in no time!

Fluoride treatments are essential to keep your teeth healthy and strong. Because our teeth lose some of their protective minerals everyday, especially when we  consume acidic foods or drinks such as sodas, our enamel can become weakened and even damaged. One way to help strengthen teeth and reverse this damage is through remineralizing fluoride treatments. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay. We recommend fluoride at every visit for kids and as needed for adults.

Our mouthguards help keep teeth safe and sound in a variety of situations. Our custom-made sports mouthguards are perfect for active children and adults, protecting teeth and soft tissues from injury. Plus, because they are custom-fitted to you or your child, they are far more comfortable and easier to wear. They can even protect against concussions! Nightguards, on the on the other hand, are worn when you are at your least active — at night. They are effective at protecting against grinding or clenching, and preserving your beautiful teeth and costly restorations from damage. Nightguards can also help stop jaw pain caused by TMJ disorder. Both guards are comfortable, portable, and made just for you!

Nervous about seeing the dentist? If you suffer from dental anxiety, sedation dentistry could be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Sedation dentistry, also known as “sleep dentistry,” can help you sleep through your appointment.

This treatment option can help:

  • People with dental fears completely relax
  • Turn multiple appointments into a single visit
  • People who have difficulty getting numb

You simply take a little pill prior to treatment, helping you completely relax. Our team monitors your vital signs constantly and you are never left alone. You will be awake enough to respond to us and hear our corny jokes, but will essentially sleep through the entire appointment! Due to the wonderfully relaxing effects of the pill, you should have someone drive you to and from the appointment.
Sedation dentistry dramatically reduces the body’s natural tendency to tense muscles while stressed, helping you to feel relaxed and at ease. Dental anesthetics are more effective while the body is relaxed, practically eliminating any concerns about discomfort during treatment. Your post-operative discomfort can be treated with simple, over-the-counter medications such as Aleve or Tylenol.