Two crucial aspects of effective oral health care are comprehensive dental exams and professional dental cleanings. This is common knowledge, and most patients at our Slidell Family Dental Office understand that these two preventive procedures are essential steps in providing their dental professional with sufficient information to treat us effectively.
But many new patients may be unaware of exactly what is involved in a comprehensive dental exam and cleaning. The following is a brief summary of the steps that should be taken:

Dental Exam
A comprehensive dental exam will be performed by your Slidell Family Dentist at your initial dental visit.  At regular check-up exams, your dentist and hygienist will include the following:

• Examination of diagnostic x-rays: This step is essential for detecting decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss.  X-rays will also help determine tooth and root positions.
• Oral cancer screening: Your dentist should check your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
• Gum disease evaluation: It is essential to check the gums and bone surrounding the teeth for signs of periodontal disease.
• Examination of tooth decay: All tooth surfaces should be checked for decay
• Examination of existing restorations: Check current fillings, crowns, etc.

Professional Dental Cleaning
Professional dental cleanings (dental prophylaxis) should be performed by a Registered Dental Hygienists.  Appointments for cleanings include a dental exam as well as the following:

• Removal of calculus (tartar): When plaque is allowed to remain on the teeth it hardens and forms a deposit known as Calculus. Brushing will not remove Calculus since it is calcified and adheres to the teeth above and below the gum line; calculus can only be removed with special dental instruments.
• Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth.  Plaque is actually a collection of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva.  These bacteria produce toxins that will inflame the gums and ultimately lead to periodontal disease.
• Teeth polishing: Polishing is the final step in the process of your professional cleaning and removes stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.

What caused you to end the relationship with your last dentist? Was it because he or she was a poor communicator and caused you to experience fear, guilt and/or discomfort? Perhaps you quit seeing your dentist because you felt that that you were just one more patient taking up their valuable time and that they were insensitive to your concerns.

At our Slidell Family Dental Office we value each and every patient as an individual and believe they deserve to be treated with respect and sensitivity to their needs and concerns. We know that many patients who come to us may have developed a strong fear of dentists and that many are nervous about dental visits. We also understand that our responsibility as caring dental professionals is to assure your optimal oral health and not to lecture you about past poor habits.

Although my team and I have years of experience and extensive training on the latest dental procedures and equipment, there are some very important things that can’t be learned in dental school. Building a trusting relationship with our patients and creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in our dental practice is essential to achieving our goal of providing you with quality dental care.

Patients can naturally feel vulnerable as they lie in the dental chair, particularly if they’ve had negative experiences in the past. We strive to maintain a friendly environment in our office, and we manage our schedule carefully to minimize waiting and provide ample time for each valued patient.

Effective communication is a priority. The team at our Slidell, Louisiana General Dentist office works hard together to ensure that patients understand their options and to make certain that all questions are answered before we develop a treatment plan. Please feel free to contact us at (985) 247-9012 to discuss how we can best serve your needs.

Left untreated, dental infections and periodontal disease will not only affect the appearance of your smile but, can destroy your oral health. Neglecting routine at-home oral and professional care places you at greater risk of losing teeth and bone density. At some point when you finally do try to “catch up” you may face painful complications that require extensive cosmetic procedures in order to restore the appearance of your smile.

Prevention is the key to maintaining a beautiful healthy smile. By making your dental care a priority you can save you the future cost and embarrassment of dental disease. At our Slidell Family Dental Office, one of our goals is to educate our patients on effective ways to prevent cavities and gum disease. Even the most consistent routine of brushing and flossing is not enough to maintain a healthy smile. Practicing good at-home oral hygiene is vital, but it must be paired with professional dental cleanings to be really effective.

Many of our patients understand the importance of following good oral health by following proper oral hygiene routines and avoiding damaging food and drinks. As we eat, drink, and speak a sticky bacterial film called plaque coats tooth enamel and oral tissue. Flossing and brushing help to remove some plaque build-up but cannot eliminate it completely. The plaque that is not removed hardens into a substance called tartar. Tartar continues to build up on teeth, causing dental decay, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss unless it is removed through regular professional cleanings.

You can take control of your dental health by:
1.    Maintaining a proactive at-home cleaning schedule (to reduce daily plaque build-up)
2.    Seeing your dentist for semi-annual professional cleanings (to remove tartar and give you a “clean slate” for brushing and flossing).

It is never too late to get back on track with your dental health routine. Start by scheduling a visit with the Slidell, Louisiana General Dentist for a professional teeth cleaning to give yourself and your family the best possible chance for optimal oral health.

When your family’s oral health is at stake, it’s great to know that there is a specific type of dental practice that will cater to your needs and maintain your family’s good oral health. The practice of family dentistry is similar to general dentistry; both types of dentistry handle oral hygiene and tooth health, but family dentists usually accept patients of all ages, establishing an important ongoing relationship with you and your family.
 
Family dentistry provides preventative dentistry services, such as regular cleanings and fluoride treatments, routine x-rays and other basic dental work. The emphasis at Slidell Family Dentist is prevention. The American Dental Association suggests visits to your family dentist for checkups a minimum of twice a year.

During each checkup, you will have a routine oral examination and cleaning to get rid of stains and plaque buildup in order to prevent tooth decay and gum problems. Your dentist will give you tips and recommendations for brushing, flossing and rinsing at home to prevent plaque and tooth decay between appointments.

Monitoring the oral health of your family from the time they’re babies and into adulthood establishes an important ongoing relationship with your Family Dentist.  It is essential that young children establish a comfortable relationship with a family dentist. At Slidell Family Dentistry we address the special needs of our young patients by creating a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to make your child’s visit as stress-free as possible.

It is important to schedule regular appointments for checkups, so your dentist can catch any problems before more extensive and costly dental work becomes necessary. Finding a family dentistry practice with which your whole family is comfortable can take a lot of stress out of making and keeping your regularly scheduled appointments! Your family dentist is trained to keep your teeth healthy by providing preventative care.