Dental exams and teeth cleaning in Aventura, Florida

It's important for you to be able to speak with confidence, eat with ease, and laugh heartily without feeling embarrassed about the condition of your teeth. Whether it’s been a few months or several years since you last saw a dentist, our staff welcomes you. We are committed to helping you get your dental health back on track. During your first dental exam at Dental Center at Aventura, your dentist will look for signs of:

• Tooth decay
• Teeth grinding
• Bone loss
• Oral cancer
• Periodontal (gum) disease

We offer a comfortable, relaxing environment where patients feel free to ask questions. Many of our patients have been coming to us for years because they trust us to keep their mouth, teeth, and gums healthy. We look forward to building that same trusting relationship with you.

Teeth Cleaning in Aventura

Most of the calls to our office are from people wishing to have their teeth cleaned. Professional teeth cleanings aren't simply about vanity. They serve an important function in maintaining dental health by removing cavity-causing plaque and calculus. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that clings to your teeth every time you eat or drink.

The bacteria in plaque uses the sugars in food and beverages to produce acids that erode the tooth enamel. That erosion process is called dental decay, and the result is a cavity – literally a hole in the tooth. That’s why it’s important to brush and floss your teeth after every meal. However, even the most diligent home regimen can't remove all of the plaque.

In less than 24 hours, plaque hardens into a substance called calculus, also known as tartar. Only a professional teeth cleaning can remove plaque and calculus from the surfaces of the teeth and from hard-to-reach places between the teeth. Many people think of a teeth cleaning as just the removal of plaque above the gum line. However, the bacteria in your mouth can attack the tooth below the gum line, too, causing periodontal, or gum, disease. The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis.

Signs of an infection caused by gum disease include red, puffy gums, or bleeding when you brush or floss. If the infection is in the early stages (gingivitis), the hygienist can treat it during your hygiene visit. If it’s more advanced, the dentist may recommend you see a gum specialist called a periodontist for treatment. The type of teeth cleaning you need depends on the health of your teeth and gums. Here are some examples of the types of dental treatment for hygiene:

• Prophylaxis: People who only need their teeth cleaned above the gum line to remove plaque, calculus and surface stains may receive a prophylaxis teeth cleaning, also known as a “prophy.” This preventative type of cleaning is most often covered by dental insurance. It is intended to remove plaque on the teeth and at the gum line, but does not remove bacteria below the gum line.
• Gingivitis Therapy: Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and is the only stage that is reversible. In addition to a prophylaxis cleaning, the hygienist or dentist will provide additional services to remove plaque on the teeth and just below the gum line.
• Scaling & Root Planing: People who are diagnosed with an active gum infection (periodontal disease) need treatment both above and below the gum line to remove the harmful bacteria. Scaling & root planing (SRP) is a non-surgical treatment that removes bacteria and smooths out exposed root surfaces. SRP may involve the application of an antibiotic and can take more than one office visit to complete. After the SRP treatments, the dentist may prescribe a periodontal maintenance routine that includes more frequent professional cleanings to help manage the disease.

Cleaning Teeth Below the Gum Line

Periodontal disease is common. Half of Americans over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease and the number jumps to 70 percent for people over the age of 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Periodontal disease is the reason for tooth loss in most adults. Just as the bacteria in the mouth breaks down sugar to create acids that attack the teeth, the bacteria also attacks the ligaments, tissue and bone that hold teeth in place under the gums. As a result, the gum tissue begins to pull away from the tooth, creating “pockets” around the tooth where more bacteria can gather.

Periodontal disease has no symptoms. In other cases, people notice that their gums bleed when they brush or floss. As the infection advances, people may notice bad breath, the gum line receding or the teeth shifting out of position. Scaling & root planing and other forms of periodontal treatment can remove the bacteria causing the infection. But these treatments can repair the damage that's already taken place.

Periodontal disease is a chronic, systemic disease, similar to other chronic diseases like diabetes. It’s only reversible in the earliest stage, which is gingivitis. Once it progresses, it can be managed but not reversed. Our dentist and hygienist at Dental Center at Aventura will be happy to answer any questions you have.

Bad Breath Management

If you have bad breath, join the club. Halitosis, the medical term for bad breath, affects 25 percent of the U.S. population. While eating pungent foods can cause bad breath, more often it’s related to germs in your mouth. When bacteria causes dental decay, the damaged cells release an odor. Professional teeth cleanings and gum treatment can eliminate this odor, and proper at-home dental care will help keep bad breath under control.

Oral Cancer Screening

As part of your first visit to our office, you will be offered an oral cancer screening. This is a quick and painless test that allows the dentist to detect signs of oral cancer that are not visible to the naked eye. Oral cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages, which makes it particularly dangerous.

By the time symptoms such as a lump are visible, the disease may have metastasized to another location. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of more commonly known cancers including cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, testicular cancer and thyroid cancer. Early detection saves lives. We recommend everyone over the age of 18 gets screened.

Teeth Grinding & Night Guards

Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is a common condition that affects up to 40 million Americans. If it's severe enough, it can wear down the enamel of your teeth. Our dentist may ask you if you have any of these symptoms:

• Morning headaches
• Wake with a sore jaw
• Chipped or cracked teeth
• Tooth sensitivity

Teeth grinding is often caused by stress. However, it can also be the result of crooked teeth or a “bad bite.” Our dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth while you sleep.

Call Today to Schedule a Dental Exam

Call Dental Center at Aventura today at (305) 921-0539. We offer convenient days and times for you or a family member to come in for a comprehensive dental exam.