Dental Exams

Having regular dental exams is an essential aspect of dental health. When you come into our office, your dentist will check your teeth and gums for cavities and other issues. They will also do a cleaning of your teeth to ensure they are squeaky clean and healthy. In addition to checking and cleaning your teeth, they will also review the neck, mouth, and face for any irregularities. In many cases, your dentist will also do dental x-rays and other procedures to make sure your entire mouth is in great shape.

After the exam is complete, your hygienist or dentist will also provide you insight into proper flossing and brushing techniques. They may also discuss your oral care habits and diet. The dentist will even go over potential cosmetic improvements or practices that can help contribute to your dental health.

A dental exam is one of the best ways to maintain excellent oral health and well-being. The dentist will be able to give you information on caring for your teeth and catch any future problems when they are still mild and easily treatable. The American Dental Associate suggests that you speak with your dentist about how often to stop in for dental exams.

Dental X-Rays

Dental X-rays, also called radiographs, are another critical aspect of dental care. They are diagnostic procedures, but can also be preventative because they may make your dentist aware of potential oral care issues that can be treated before escalating.

The x-ray itself is a photograph that passes through your body’s soft tissues to be absorbed by dense tissue, such as bone or teeth. X-rays can be extraoral or intraoral. With an extraoral x-ray, it is taken outside of the mouth. Intraoral, on the other hand, are taken inside of the mouth. Most dental x-rays are intraoral and can show a higher level of detail when it comes to bone, teeth, and tissues of the mouth.
Some of the things that x-rays allow the dentist to do include:
Looking at the root of your teeth

Finding cavities

Checking the health of the bone near the tooth
Determining if there is periodontal disease
Checking on the status of developing teeth
Monitoring tooth health

X-rays can help Dr. Perry, Prochaska, or Kynaston diagnose problems like gum disease, infection, and cavities. However, there are multiple types of x-rays that your dentist may request. The choice of type is dependent mainly upon the kind of care that you need. The most common types are occlusal, panoramic, bite-wing, and periapical.

Dental Cleanings

Another preventative dental procedure is the dental cleaning. Keeping your teeth clean is a big part of keeping your entire body healthy and disease-free. The first thing to understand is why teeth cleanings are so necessary. There are two reasons for this. One, because it can help to prevent diseases such as heart disease or complications from diabetes. Two, because it can help to prevent the loss of teeth.

The mouth is a specialized area of the body, and it is under a lot of stress throughout the day because of eating and talking. This is part of why special care is essential for the mouth and teeth. With a tooth cleaning, plaque and tartar are removed. The buildup of these substances is natural, but having too much of it can lead to gum disease.

Gum disease is a response to tartar buildup and can lead to bleeding and inflamed gums. When this happens, your immune system kicks in to kill off the infection. The problem is that as gum disease continues to progress, it can cause degradation to the tissues and bone in your mouth.

During a dental cleaning, your hygienist or dentist will explain what is happening. They will also talk to you about why different procedures are happening, including why your gums may bleed, or your teeth might feel sensitive.

Dental Hygiene

When we mention dental hygiene, what we are discussing is having a mouth that looks, feels, and smells healthy. Good dental health means that your teeth are clean, your gums are pink and do not bleed or have pain when you floss and brush, and you do not have a constant problem with bad breath. Having good dental hygiene is a huge part of general dentistry and prevents many major dental issues that you could otherwise suffer from.

One of those things is tooth decay, which can be a significant problem for people of all different ages. When a child has a cavity, it can lead to pain, trouble concentrating on learning, poor appearance, and absences from school. This is a major issue that affects the quality of life for everyone who struggles with it.

Another massive issue for those who do not have proper dental hygiene is periodontal disease. This is an infection that occurs in the gum tissue when bacteria is present. This can lead to other problems as it progresses and has been associated with heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Periodontics

Periodontal treatment is an essential aspect of preventative dentistry and includes many different procedures. The one that is most commonly thought of is probably root planing and scaling. This process involves a thorough cleaning of the root surfaces to remove all tartar and plaque that may be inside of periodontal pockets. It also requires smoothing of the root of the tooth which eliminates bacteria.

Sometimes scaling and root planing involves other types of treatment, such as antibiotics, antimicrobials, and host modulation. However, in many cases, you will find that scaling and root planing does all that is needed for the average patient. Other patients will require maintenance therapy to keep their dental health high.

Some patients will require a tray system which is built from impressions made of their mouth. This tray system can be used to deliver certain sorts of medications that Dr. Prochaska, Dr. Perry, or Dr. Kynaston prescribe for you. These are similar to fluoride trays which have long been used for the prevention of tooth decay.

Traditional Braces

Braces are orthodontic appliances that have been around for thousands of years. While the materials and design have changed a lot in that time, the basic idea behind them has stayed the same through time. What braces care do are to provide force to move teeth in a specific and controlled way. This gives you the chance to have a mouth full of teeth that are straight and white, perfect for showing off with every smile.

Children’s Dentistry

It may come as a surprise to find out that a child who has had their first birthday is old enough to visit the office for the first time. This also applies to any child who has at least four teeth. This is an ideal time for a child to experience a gentle and professional dental exam. The staff will do everything we can to make your child’s dentist visits pleasant and instill in them the foundations for excellent dental care. Our dentists, Dr. Brian Kynaston, Dr. Matthew Perry, and Dr. Seth Prochaska, will also provide encouragement and education on proper dental habits.

Composite Fillings

If you have a cavity, your dentist will likely recommend fillings to rectify the problem. While incidents of cavities are getting lower as more people take better care of their teeth, they do still occur. The good news is that for those who have cavities, there are more options now than ever.

With a composite filling, the filling will be made of acrylic resin and powdered glass. It has some excellent advantages when comparing it to a traditional metal filling. One of those benefits is that it can be made in a shade that perfectly matches the color of your natural teeth. This means fewer people will know you have a filling at all. This natural-looking option has gained popularity because people appreciate the ability to have a natural-looking smile.

Composite fillings can be used for decayed teeth, but there are other uses for them as well. They work well to fill in worn teeth, broken or cracked teeth, chipped teeth, and can be used to fill in space between two teeth that are farther apart than aesthetically wanted. You will also find that the composite fillings by are very durable and can last many years.

Wisdom Teeth

Once we become adults, we end up having 32 individual teeth. However, many people’s mouths can only hold about 28 of those teeth properly. When our third molars, or wisdom teeth, start to come in it can cause discomfort and pain. While some do not require wisdom teeth removal, many people do because of the problems wisdom teeth can cause. This includes misaligning your other teeth, as well as unneeded pressure in your mouth.
We can help you remove your wisdom teeth before they cause unnecessary problems and pain.

Oral Cancer Screenings

An oral cancer screening is one of the examinations your general dentist can provide. This procedure looks for any signs or cancerous or precancerous conditions in the mouth. Most dentists will perform a basic exam at any routine appointment. However, other tests may be used to assist in determining if abnormal cells are present in the mouth.

The reason behind screening is to detect cancer in the mouth at the earliest possible stage when it is the simplest to cure or remove. Some people have a higher risk of oral cancer and may be best served by this type of screening. The below factors may be associated with an increased risk of oral cancer:

Finding cavities
Dental Cleanings
Dental Hygiene
Periodontics
Composite Fillings
Oral Cancer Screenings
Root Canals
Skilled General Dentistry Procedures

You should talk to your dentist to determine if screening is indicated for you. You can also ask our skilled dentists about ways to reduce your risk of getting oral cancer.

Oral Surgery

The term “Oral Surgery” refers to a broad range of different surgical procedures that involve the mouth or jaw. Oral surgery can refer to tooth extraction, root canal, jaw repositioning, cancer removal, or dental implants. However, these procedures are performed by a dentist that specializes in surgical procedures. This includes a number of different dental practitioners, including endodontists, periodontists, and prosthodontists.

Root Canals

If your dentist has explained that you need a root canal, you probably wonder what it entails. Many people believe that root canals are very painful and stressful, as that is a common misconception that is shared. The truth is, many root canals are not painful at all. The use of anesthetic can ensure the entire procedure is comfortable for you.

What happens during a root canal is that your dentist will examine the tooth and then provide a local anesthetic. Once your mouth is numb, the dentist will start the procedure. First, they will isolate the tooth; then they will make an opening in the top of it. Tiny instruments are used to remove the pulp from the root and to shape the space correctly so that it can be filled. Following that, the dentist will fill the canal and then fit a temporary barrier at the top to close the hole.

Most teeth that have had root canals will look and can be treated just like any other tooth. However, your dentist may offer special instructions to you regarding taking care of the tooth.

Skilled General Dentistry Procedures

If you are in need of a qualified dentist who can provide preventative procedures, consider contacting us!

Meet the Staff

Patty Theieszen

Hygienist

Becky Patterson

Hygienist

Shawna Knoche

Hygienist