Limited / Comprehensive Exams
Preventive Services
Prevention is always better than cure; while this statement may seem clichéd, a little bit of extra effort goes a long way in maintaining optimal oral health.
Preventive Dentistry refers to all services and procedures that help keep dental and periodontal infections at bay. It is a combination of at-home practices and in-office procedures aimed at keeping the teeth clean and gums healthy.
Dental Examination
At our practice, we offer a complete range of preventive services. Each visit starts with a thorough assessment of your mouth. This exam is completely non-invasive and painless – aimed simply at observing the teeth and surrounding soft tissues of the mouth. We observe both the soft and hard tissues in order to evaluate dental health. Additionally, we may also take dental X-rays to check for conditions that are not visible to the naked eye.
These routine exams play a critical role in keeping the mouth healthy because early detection of any oral disease/infection means a better prognosis and greater chances of successful treatment.
In-Office Dental Cleaning
We advise all our patients to have their teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year to maintain good oral hygiene. Although daily, home hygiene is extremely important, it is not adequate for a patient’s long-term dental health. Almost all patients build up plaque and calculus over time which can’t easily be removed by brushing and flossing alone. Therefore, our experienced hygienists are needed for this procedure.
When plaque is allowed to accumulate in areas that are not easily accessible by the bristles of a toothbrush, it turns hard and causes inflammation of the surrounding soft tissues. This condition is known as gingivitis. Gingivitis can progress into a more aggressive, irreversible condition known as periodontitis if proper measures are not taken in time.
Professional dental cleaning, also known as scaling, involves the removal of plaque, calculus, food debris, and bacteria from around the crowns and under the gums. This procedure keeps the teeth clean, the gums healthy, and bacteria at bay.
You can keep your mouth healthy with a few lifestyle modifications and a little help from Dr Novy! Give us a call today to learn more about preventive dentistry and at-home oral hygiene maintenance tips.