Dental exams and teeth cleaning in Hialeah, Florida

Even if you've neglected your dental health in the past, our team at Towncare Dental of Hialeah Square can help you get back on track so you can regain the smile and confidence you thought you lost.

We offer a comfortable, nonthreatening environment in which patients are encouraged to ask questions. We work hard to build trusting relationships with our patients. That's why many of our patients have been coming to us for years.

Even if it's been awhile since your last dental visit, don't hesitate to improve the quality of your life by calling Towncare Dental of Hialeah Square at (786) 838-4145 to schedule a comprehensive exam.

During that exam, your dentist will look for signs of:

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

Teeth Cleaning in Hialeah Square

There's nothing like that fresh, clean feeling after having your teeth professionally cleaned. Most of the calls to our office are from people wanting to make appointments for professional teeth cleanings. But professional cleanings do much more than give you that invigorating sensation.

Professional teeth cleanings also remove the plaque and calculus that cause tooth decay. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that builds on your teeth every time you eat or drink. The bacteria turn the sugars in food and beverages into acids that erode the tooth enamel. That erosion process can cause cavities – literally holes in the teeth.

Your mother had the right idea when she would nag you about brushing your teeth when you were young. Brushing and flossing after every meal can prevent the formation of plaque on your teeth. If plaque isn't removed, it can harden into a substance called calculus, also known as tartar, in less than 24 hours.

Calculus is equally destructive to your teeth and is much more difficult to remove with routine brushing. However, even the most diligent brushing can’t eliminate all of the plaque. 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 professional cleaning is known as a prophylaxis, or “prophy.” It’s also known as a healthy-mouth cleaning and is the type of cleaning most often covered by dental insurance. Dentists recommend you have a prophy twice a year.

Cleaning Teeth Below the Gum Line

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. This is called gingivitis and is the first stage of periodontal, or gum, disease. It’s also the only stage in which the disease is reversible.

If the infection is in the early stages, the hygienist can treat it by removing plaque on the teeth and just below the gum line during your hygiene visit. If it’s more advanced, the dentist may recommend you see a gum specialist called a periodontist for treatment.

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 take more than one office visit to complete and may include the application of an antibiotic. After the initial treatments, the dentist may prescribe a periodontal maintenance routine to help manage the disease.

Periodontal disease is very common. It affects 50 percent of Americans over the age of 30 and 70 percent over the age of 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 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” around the tooth where more bacteria can gather.

Often, periodontal disease has no symptoms. In other cases, you may notice blood when you brush or floss your teeth. As the infection becomes worse, you may notice bad breath, the gum line receding or the teeth shifting out of position.

Scaling & root planing and other periodontal treatments remove the bacteria, but can’t repair the damage. Periodontal disease is a chronic, systemic disease, similar to other chronic diseases like diabetes. It’s only reversible in the earliest stage, gingivitis. Once it progresses, it can be managed but not reversed.

Bad Breath Management

If you have bad breath, you’re in good company. Halitosis, the medical term for bad breath, affects 25 percent of the U.S. population.

While bad breath can be caused by the foods you eat, it’s more often the result of germs in your mouth. When bacteria causes dental decay, the damaged cells can release a disagreeable odor.

Bad breath can be controlled with professional teeth cleanings and gum treatments as well as proper at-home dental care, including brushing your teeth after meals, flossing and rinsing with a mouthwash.

Oral Cancer Screening

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

Oral cancer can be particularly dangerous because it often has no symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms such as a lump in the cheek or persistent sore are present, the disease may have progressed and 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, which is also called bruxism, affects up to 40 million Americans. 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
• Waking up 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.” To prevent further damage to your teeth while you sleep, our dentist can fit you with a mouth guard.

Call Today to Schedule a Dental Exam

Call Towncare Dental of Hialeah Square today at (786) 838-4145 to schedule a comprehensive dental exam. We look forward to finding a convenient day and time for you or a family member to come in.