We are proud of our extensive preventive care program.  Our successful plan is tailored to each patient's individual needs.  Our goal is for each patient to keep their teeth a lifetime.

We believe in prevention.  We recommend regular visits with the hygienists (every three, four, or six months), daily brushing, flossing and tongue scraping, and daily exposure to fluoride.

Our doctors and our team of highly trained hygienists believe that early detection of disease will allow us to realize that goal.  If disease is detected early, the treatment is less expensive and less invasive.

At each hygiene visit you will be examined for decay, periodontal (gum) disease, and infections.  We also will screen you for oral cancer and evaluate your occlusion (bite) and TMJ (joint between your lower jaw and your skull).  We will record your blood pressure.

We feel that thorough and accurate diagnosis requires not only visual examination but radiographs (x-rays) as well.  We can see only a small portion of your teeth visually.  Radiographs allow us to evaluate the health of the teeth and the supporting bone.  We examine each film for decay, height and density of bone (which can be lost to gum disease), cysts, tumors, abscesses, etc.

We are advocates of fluoride.  Recent research has shown that fluoride is not just for children anymore!

We now know that fluoride:

• Can strengthen your enamel to prevent cavities
• Can also remineralize small cavities
• Can aid in preventing cavities on the roots (a problem for those with receding gums)
• Reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth, This can aid in preventing gingivitis in those with healthy gum tissue and decrease the likelihood of bone loss in those with periodontal disease.
• There is even recent evidence that it can help prevent osteoporosis

We recommend:

• Drinking fluoridated water daily
• Using a fluoridated toothpaste.  For many of our patients, we recommend the use of a prescription strength fluoride gel to be used daily at home
• Receiving a professional fluoride treatment at each hygiene visit

Sealants are an important part of any preventive program.  They protect the pits and grooves and the biting surfaces of back teeth from decay.  See our sealant web page for more information.