Dental exams and teeth cleaning in Cutler Bay, Florida

We offer a full range of dental services in a relaxed, comfortable environment and encourage our patients to ask questions about the state of their oral health and treatment options available. This is why many of our patients have been visiting us for years.

They know they can trust us with their dental health. We would love to build that kind of relationship with you as well. Whether you need a routine dental exam and teeth cleaning in Cutler Bay or require more extensive dental services to restore your smile and improve your quality of life, is ready to help.

Call our Towncare Dental of Cutler Bay at (786) 619-3434 to schedule a comprehensive exam. Your dentist will look for signs of:

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

Teeth Cleaning in Cutler Bay

Most of the calls we receive at our office are from people wishing to make appointments to have their teeth cleaned. It's one of the few dental treatments people actually look forward to receiving. But professional teeth cleanings play a crucial role in your dental health.

Professional teeth cleanings remove cavity-causing plaque and calculus. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that builds on your teeth every time you eat or drink. The bacteria in plaque transforms the sugars in food and beverages into acids that erode the tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. The result is a cavity – literally a hole in the tooth.

Your mother knew what she was talking about when she pestered you to brush your teeth after every meal when you were a kid. This isn't an Old Wives' Tale. Limiting sweets and brushing and flossing help eliminate that bacteria-carrying plaque. If plaque isn't removed from you teeth, it will harden into a substance called calculus in less than 24 hours.

Calculus, or tartar, is even more difficult to remove. Nevertheless, the most dutiful home hygiene regimen 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 basic teeth cleaning to remove plaque and calculus is called a prophylaxis, or “prophy.” It's for people who only need their teeth cleaned above the gum line to remove plaque, calculus, and surface stains. Dentists recommend that you get this healthy-mouth cleaning twice a year and it's often covered by dental insurance.

Cleaning Teeth Below the Gum Line

Unfortunately, the bacteria from plaque and calculus doesn't always remain on the surface of your teeth. It can creep down to attack the teeth below the gum line and cause an infection of the gums known as periodontal disease, or gum disease.

Although periodontal disease often has no symptoms, usually the first indication people have that something is amiss is when they notice their gums are red and puffy or bleed when they are brushing and flossing. This stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. It is the first stage of gum disease and the only stage that's treatable. As the disease becomes more advanced, it can be managed but the damage that has already been done is irreversible.

A dentist or hygienist can treat gingivitis by removing plaque on the teeth and just below the gum line. For periodontal disease with an active gum infection, your dentist may recommend a procedure called scaling & root planing.

Scaling & root planing (SRP) is a non-surgical treatment that removes bacteria and smooths out exposed root surfaces. It may also include the 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 periodontal maintenance routine to help manage the disease. To treat more advanced cases of periodontal disease, the dentist may recommend you see a gum specialist called a periodontist for treatment.

Periodontal disease is very common; half of Americans over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The amount jumps to 70 percent for people over the age of 65. It 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” where more bacteria can collect.

As the disease progresses, you may notice bad breath, the gum line receding, or the teeth shifting out of position. Periodontal treatments can remove bacteria, but can’t repair the damage.

Periodontal disease is a chronic, systemic disease, similar to other chronic diseases such as diabetes. It’s only reversible in the earliest stage, gingivitis. Once it progresses, it can be managed but not reversed.

Our dentist and hygienist at Towncare Dental of Cutler Bay will be happy to answer any questions you have.

Bad Breath Management

If you've done the “sniff test,” you aren't alone. To determine if they have bad breath, people frequently hold their hand over their noses and blow into their hands. Your bad breath may be caused by the garlic-laced pasta you had for dinner. But it's more likely the result of dental decay.

When bacteria causes dental decay, the damaged cells can release an unpleasant odor. The medical term for bad breath is halitosis. It affects 25 percent of the U.S. population.

Fortunately, professional teeth cleanings and gum treatment will address these issues. 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 offer an oral cancer screening that could save your life. Oral cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages, which makes it particularly dangerous.

By the time symptoms are visible, the disease is frequently in the later stages of advancement and has 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.

We recommend that everyone over the age 18 gets screened. This quick, easy and painless test allows the dentist to see signs of oral cancer that are not visible to the naked eye.

Teeth Grinding & Night Guards

If you're under a lot of stress, you may be taking it out on your teeth without even knowing it. Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is a common condition that affects up to 40 million Americans. It is often caused by stress. However, it can also be the result of crooked teeth or a “bad bite.” If it's severe enough, it can wear down the enamel of your teeth.

Our dentist will look for signs of teeth grinding and may ask you if you have any of these symptoms:

• Morning headaches
• A sore jaw upon waking up
• 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

Call Towncare Dental of Cutler Bay today at (786) 619-3434 for your comprehensive dental exam. We'll be happy to find a day and time that's most convenient for you.