Fluoride Treatments
For a Stronger, Cavity-Free Smile
In practicing Danville family dentistry for decades, we’ve seen firsthand how fluoride can be extremely effective at helping to reduce your risk of developing damaging tooth decay. This mineral occurs naturally in varying amounts in some of the foods we eat and our water supplies. For over 50 years, fluoride has been an offered treatment for dental hygiene cleanings because of its many benefits. We have many reasons why we might recommend fluoride to parents and children alike such as a frequent sugar or carbohydrate intake, recent history of dental decay, and inadequate exposure to fluoride. It can also be used to lessen post-cleaning sensitivity, fight decay, and seal roots after cleaning.
Home Care
Your Important At-Home Role
Your personal dental care routine at home is more important than simply brushing your teeth twice and flossing once every day. Did you know that by eating more balanced meals, reducing snacking, and correctly using the different dental aids to keep cavities under control, you can greatly reduce your risk of developing unwanted, even costly oral health problems? A lot of patients ask us what they should do if they’re in a situation where they can brush or floss after meals. It’s simple! Rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth when you can.
How to Properly Brush & Floss
Brush Up on Some Basics
Did you know there are “rules” or best practices to brushing and flossing your teeth? Part of having the healthiest possible dental hygiene means placing your brush (either electric or traditional) at a 45-degree angle where your gums meet your teeth. Using small circular motions, brush every part of your teeth, mouth, and tongue you can reach with gentle, back and forth motions. Floss between your teeth toward your gum line in a curved or U-shaped formation to remove interdental plaque and harmful food debris.
Oral Cancer Exam
Why Early Detection is Essential
What’s something that’s completely painless and just one of them could potentially save your life? It’s an oral cancer exam courtesy of your Danville family dentist. When you come to see us for your dental hygiene cleanings, be sure that we’re always on the lookout for anything suspicious in terms of oral cancer symptoms. We can’t stress this enough: The earlier we catch oral cancer, the easier it is to treat and beat. After Dr. Paul conducts your visual oral cancer screening, if there is anything of concern or needing additional attention, he will refer you to a trusted specialist within the area for further care.
Oral Hygiene Aids
Help for Effective At-Home Smile Care
Dental hygiene doesn’t end when you leave Danville Dental Care. Everyone knows that good, extremely effective oral hygiene also happens at home. It’s important to give your teeth and gums all of the help and defense you can against decay. Did you know that periodontal or gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in our country? It’s also completely preventable (in most cases) with proper oral hygiene aids such as:
- Dental flosses
- Interdental cleaners
- Mouth rinses
- Oral irrigators
- Rubber tip stimulators
- Tongue cleaners
- Toothbrushes
Unsure where to start with your oral hygiene aids? Talk to us!
Sealants
Real Cavity-Fighting Power and Protection
Did you know over 75 percent of dental decay happens in your teeth’s deep grooves — A.K.A. pits and fissures? A sealant, or thin plastic coating applied to your molars and premolars, can protect your teeth by sealing these grooves. The end result is a smoother surface that’s easier to keep clean for excellent dental hygiene. In our years of practicing Danville family dentistry, we’ve found sealants are helpful for children, teens, and adults. Sealants can protect teeth from decay for many years, but need to be checked for wear and chipping at regular dental visits.
Bruxism
Relief From the Everyday Grind
Bruxism or grinding of the teeth is something that can do real damage to your smile, and you might not even know you’re doing it. This is because grinding and cleaning your teeth can happen at any time, but often occurs while you are sound asleep. Bruxism is actually one of the most common known sleep disorders. It can leave you with tremendous jaw pain, a dysfunctional bite, earaches, depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. There’s no magic cure for bruxism, however, custom mouthguards/nightguards can help.
Dental Exams & Cleanings
A Danville Family Dentistry Must-Have
You can smile knowing that at Danville Dental Care, there’s much more going on during your dental exams and dental hygiene cleanings than you might initially think. Sure, we give your teeth that fresh, polished feeling that you can only get from a professional dental hygiene cleaning. However, when you visit us for your checkup and cleanings, this is also a critical time for us to scan your mouth for any abnormalities or changes in your oral health.
Digital X-Rays
Advanced Technology You Can Rely On
Dental X-rays are one of the most useful diagnostic tools your Danville dentist can use to truly understand what’s happening inside of your mouth both above and below your gum line. Once we have gathered the necessary information, it allows us to better understand your needs and to tailor your Danville family dentistry experience more to you, so you value your oral health and the time you spend with us.
DIAGNOdent™
Say No Way to Tooth Decay
DIAGNOdent is a safe, hand-held fluorescent laser that dentists like Dr. Paul Cannariato use to discover tooth decay that can be difficult to detect with the naked eye. This groundbreaking technology has the amazing ability to help us find tooth decay in its very earliest stages to save you time and money at the dentist. DIAGNOdent is:
- Cost effective
- Completely safe
- Good at investigating suspicious areas
- Useful at providing empirically measurable results
- More accurate than other diagnostic tools