Dental exams and teeth cleaning in Miami, Florida

The state of your dental health can affect all aspects of your life: your physical wellness, your confidence, your ability to eat the foods you love and the way you socialize. We’re prepared to help you to speak with confidence, eat with ease and laugh whole-heartedly without feeling embarrassed about the condition of your teeth.

During your first dental exam at Towncare Dental of West Kendall, your dentist will look for signs of:

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

We offer a relaxing, comfortable 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 hope you’ll let us establish the same kind of relationship with you.

Teeth Cleaning in West Kendall

Professional teeth cleanings are the one dental service people don’t seem to mind getting. There’s nothing more invigorating than having professionally cleaned teeth. But those refreshing cleanings also serve a more serious purpose.

Professional teeth cleanings remove 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 use the sugars in food and drinks to produce acids that erode the tooth enamel.

This process is called dental decay, and the result is a cavity – literally a hole in the tooth. This is why dentists stress the importance of brushing and flossing after every meal. Even so, a toothbrush can’t eliminate all the plaque.

Plaque hardens into a substance called calculus in less than 24 hours. Only a professional teeth cleaning can remove the plaque and calculus from those places that a toothbrush and piece of floss can’t reach.

Professional teeth cleanings don’t simply remove plaque above the gum line. They can also battle the bacteria that migrate below the gum line and cause an infection known as periodontal disease, also called gum disease.

Gingivitis is the first stage of the disease and the only stage in which it can be wiped out. Indications of gingivitis include red and swollen gums or gums that bleed when you brush and floss.

In this early stage, the hygienist can treat it during your hygiene visit. The type of professional teeth cleaning you need depends on the health of your teeth and gums. Some examples include:

• Prophylaxis: People who only need their teeth cleaned above the gum line to remove plaque, calculus and surface stains receive a prophylaxis teeth cleaning. This is also known as a “prophy” or a healthy-mouth cleaning. Dentists recommend you have this type of cleaning twice a year. It is often covered by dental insurance.
• Gingivitis Therapy: Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and is the only stage that is reversible. 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 a more advanced stage of gum disease 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. It may also involve the application of an antibiotic. SRP may take more than one office visit to complete. After the treatments, your dentist may prescribe more frequent cleanings to help manage the disease. 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

Periodontal disease is very common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of Americans over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease and 70 percent of people over the age of 65 have it. It can ultimately result in tooth loss.

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 thrive. Often, periodontal disease has no symptoms.

In other cases, you may notice blood when you brush or floss your teeth. As the infection worsens, you may have bad breath, a receding gum line and teeth that have shifted out of position. Scaling & root planing and other periodontal treatments can remove bacteria, but they can’t repair the damage.

Periodontal disease is a chronic, systemic disease, similar to diabetes or heart disease. It’s only reversible in the earliest stage. 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. Although bad breath can be related to what you ate recently, more often it’s caused by the presence of germs in your mouth.

The cells damaged during the tooth decay process release an unpleasant odor. This problem can be resolved with professional teeth cleanings and gum treatments. 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

The comprehensive exams at Towncare Dental of West Kendall include an oral cancer screening, a screening recommended for all adults over the age of 18. This quick, easy and painless test allows the dentist to see signs of oral cancer that are not visible to the naked eye.

Although oral cancer doesn’t receive the amount of attention that other forms of cancer get, it is dangerous and potentially deadly. Oral cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages.

When symptoms do appear, the disease has likely metastasized to other locations, such as the lymph nodes in the neck. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of more commonly known cancers. Early detection saves lives.

Teeth Grinding & Night Guards

Teeth grinding is simply an annoyance to your spouse. It also can be damaging the enamel on your teeth. Also called bruxism, teeth grinding is a common problem that affects up to 40 million Americans. Our dentist will look for signs of teeth grinding and may ask you if you have any of these symptoms:

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

Although it’s often caused by stress, teeth grinding 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

To schedule a comprehensive dental exam, call Towncare Dental of West Kendall today at (305) 403-9348. We look forward to meeting you and getting your smile back on track.