Dental exams and teeth cleaning in Clermont, Florida

Whether you need a routine dental exam and teeth cleaning in Clermont or require more extensive dental services to restore your smile and improve your quality of life, our team is ready to help.

Whether it's been a few months or a few years since your last dental visit, we offer a comfortable, relaxed environment in which you'll feel free to ask questions and be confident that you will receive the reliable information so you can make smart decisions about your dental health.

We take pride in establishing a relationship of trust with our patients. As a result, many of our patients have been coming to us for years. We hope to build that same kind of relationship with you. Take the first step and call Towncare Dental of Clermont at (352) 432-1960 for a comprehensive exam. At that time, your dentist will look for signs of:

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

Teeth Cleaning in Clermont

Among our most requested services is a professional teeth cleaning. This is the one dental service patients look forward to receiving. Who doesn't love the invigorating sensation of having your teeth thoroughly cleaned?

Professional cleanings aren't merely a luxury. They serve a vital role in maintaining your dental health. Professional teeth cleanings remove cavity-causing plaque and calculus. Plaque is a sticky, colorless coating of bacteria that builds on your teeth every time you eat or drink.

The bacteria in plaque uses the sugars in food and beverages to produce acids that decay the tooth enamel. The result is cavities, which are literally holes in your teeth. That’s dentists continually emphasize the need to brush and floss your teeth after every meal. If plaque is allowed to remain on your teeth, it can harden into a substance called calculus in less than 24 hours.

But even the most diligent home hygiene routine can't remove all of the plaque and calculus. Only a professional teeth cleaning can remove plaque and calculus from the surfaces of the teeth and in hard-to-reach places between the teeth. This type of teeth cleaning is called a prophylaxis or “prophy.”

Dentists recommend you get two professional cleanings a year, and most dental insurance will cover the cost of these cleanings. 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.

Many people don’t realize that gingivitis is the first stage of gum (periodontal) disease. If your gums are red, puffy, or bleed when you brush or floss, that’s a sign that you may have bacteria below the gum line that is causing an infection.

If the infection is in the early stages, 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.

Cleaning Teeth Below the Gum Line

• Bacteria doesn't always remain on the visible surfaces of your teeth. Sometimes it creeps below the gums, causing an infection. If left untreated, infections of the gum can develop into chronic periodontal disease, also called gum disease. This disease affects 50 percent of Americans over the age of 30 and 70 percent over the age of 65.
• Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and is the only stage that is reversible. Although gum disease often has no symptoms, telltale signs of gingivitis are red and puffy gums or gums that bleed after brushing and flossing. If you have been diagnosed with gingivitis, the hygienist or dentist can remove the bacteria-filled plaque on the teeth and just below the gum line.
• People who are diagnosed with an active gum infection require 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. This treatment also may include an application of an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. SRP may take more than one office visit to complete. After the initial treatments, the dentist may prescribe a maintenance routine, including more frequent cleanings, to help manage the disease.

This treatment may very well save your teeth. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in 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. This causes the gum tissue to pull away from the tooth, creating “pockets” around the tooth where bacteria can thrive.

Patients with this more advanced stage of gum disease may notice bad breath, the gum line receding or the teeth shifting out of position. While scaling & root planing and other periodontal treatment can remove bacteria, they can’t repair the damage. It’s only reversible in the earliest stage, which is gingivitis. Once it progresses, it can be managed but not reversed.

Bad Breath Management

Bad breath is not only embarrassing, it's an indication that you have germs in your mouth that are causing tooth decay and possibly gum disease. When bacteria causes dental decay, the damaged cells can release an odor.

Halitosis, the medical term for bad breath, can be resolved with professional teeth cleanings and gum treatment. Following up with the proper at-home dental care, including brushing your teeth after meals, flossing and rinsing with a mouthwash, also will help keep bad breath under control.

Oral Cancer Screening

As part of your first visit to our office, we will offer to conduct an oral cancer screening. This is a quick, easy and painless test that allows the dentist to see signs of oral cancer that are not visible to the naked eye. This screening could save your life.

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. Unfortunately, many people don't realize they have oral cancer until it's too late.

Oral cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms, such as a lump in the cheek, are visible, the disease is frequently in the later stages of advancement and has metastasized to another location.

This is why we recommend everyone over the age of 18 gets screened.

Teeth Grinding & Night Guards

Do you frequently wake up with headaches or a sore jar. If so, you may have bruxism. Bruxism is another name for teeth grinding. It affects up to 40 million Americans. If it's severe enough, it can wear down the enamel on your teeth.

Teeth grinding is often caused by stress. However, it can also be the result of crooked teeth or a “bad bite.” Our dentist will look for signs of teeth grinding and may ask you if you have any of the following symptoms:

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

Our dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth while you sleep. Since it’s worn at night, this type of mouth guard is also called a night guard.

Call Today to Schedule a Dental Exam

Don't put it off any longer. Call Towncare Dental of Clermont today at (352) 432-1960 to schedule your comprehensive dental exam. We look forward to helping you get your smile back on track.