Preventive Dentistry
Cedar View Dental provides the highest quality treatments and technologies to help you maintain optimal dental health with as little discomfort as possible. We encourage all our patients to be proactive with their oral health and make the time for routine checkups and cleanings.
Preventive dentistry encompasses all procedures and treatments that ensure teeth stay healthy. In addition to being a key step in maintaining a smile you admire, preventive dentistry also helps us detect oral health problems in early stages before they become serious.
Here are many of the preventive services we offer. If you would like to schedule an appointment or ask any questions about the services below, we would love the opportunity to help. You can reach us at (425) 778-2126.
Dental Exams
Regular exams are recommended every six months to evaluate overall dental health, check for cavities or gum disease, perform oral cancer screenings, and assess the risk of developing problems, if any. We'll also discuss any home methods or products that may help you improve your oral health between exams. While usually performed during routine cleanings, you can schedule a dental exam any time.
Cleanings
In areas that are hard to brush and floss, hardened plaque builds up. Even with daily home care, this buildup is difficult to remove and can lead to oral health problems in the future. We recommend that all patients come in for professional dental cleanings at least once every six months. Our process gently removes plaque, tartar and stains so your teeth and gums can stay beautiful and healthy.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer can be a serious and even life-threatening condition. Regular screenings help detect symptoms in their early stages. For this reason, we take time to check your gums, tongue and cheeks at every cleaning.
Sealants
While cavities can develop at any point within the tooth, the most common place is on the chewing surfaces. These surfaces have deep grooves that can trap food in areas that are hard to brush out. Before problems develop, sealants protect the chewing surfaces from decay, keeping germs and food particles out of the grooves.
CariFree
Our teeth have difficult jobs to do. Sometimes, even with good home care and healthy diets, problems may still arise and cavities may still develop. New research is showing that one potential cause lies in our saliva. CariFree is a brand of prescription treatment products specifically formulated to improve your saliva and therefore your teeth and gums.
Fluoride Varnish
If your oral health requires extra cavity prevention, we offer fluoride varnish to help prevent decay and strengthen the surface. This highly-concentrated form of fluoride adheres to the teeth for 24 hours, allowing it to enter the tooth enamel and fortify its structure. This process can slow the start of cavities and prevent new cavities from forming.
Night Guards
Teeth grinding during the night can lead to headaches, damaged teeth and jaw pain. We offer night guards that are customized to your bite and protect the teeth and jaw during the night. This prevents sore and tenseness around the jaw, helping you achieve deep, restful sleep.
Additional Services
We tailor our services to each of our patients. Here are some additional services we offer to help keep you comfortable and your smile bright:
- Prescription Toothpastes — For patients who require additional measures to fight off the cavities and other health problems, prescription toothpastes contain extra fluoride that remineralizes and strengthens teeth when applied daily.
- Nitrous Oxide — For patients who require extra comfort, nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) provides a safe and immediate relaxation during procedures. Once administration stops, it leaves the body within five minutes.
- Oral Sedation — For a few patients, nitrous oxide alone may not relax patients fully enough to allow dental treatment. Oral sedation can help in the form of a pill taken an hour before your procedure. As the effects remain in the body longer than laughing gas, it is important to have a driver take you to and from your appointment.