Dental exams and teeth cleaning in West Palm Beach, Florida

We want you to feel completely comfortable at our office and welcome any questions you have. 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 relationship based on trust with you.

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

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

Teeth Cleaning in West Palm Beach

Most people call our dental office when it’s time to have their teeth cleaned. Professional teeth cleanings are crucial to your dental health because they 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 converts 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. That’s why dentists continually emphasize the need to brush and floss your teeth after meals.

Without good oral hygiene, the plaque can harden into a substance called calculus in less than 24 hours. But event the most diligent brushing and flossing routine won't remove all of the plaque and tartar.

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. Most people think a professional teeth cleaning is intended to remove the plaque above the gum line. However, the bacteria in your mouth can attack the tooth below the gum line, too. This can lead to periodontal disease.

Gingivitis is the first stage of 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.

The type of teeth cleaning you need depends on the health of your teeth and gums. Here are some 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 will require a prophylaxis teeth cleaning. This is also known as a “prophy” or a healthy-mouth cleaning. It is the type of teeth cleaning most often covered by dental insurance. While this type of teeth cleaning removes plaque on the teeth and at the gum line, it 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. 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 will 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. SRP may also include the application of an antibiotic to kill any bacteria that remains. Sometimes this treatment requires more than one office visit to complete and. After the initial treatments, the dentist may prescribe a periodontal maintenance routine to help manage the disease.

Cleaning Teeth Below the Gum Line

Periodontal disease is very common. Half of Americans over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease and the figure 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 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. As a result, the gum tissue pulls 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, a receding gum line or the teeth shifting out of position. Scaling & root planing and other forms of periodontal treatment remove 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, which is gingivitis. Once it progresses, it can be managed but not reversed.

Bad Breath Management

If you have bad breath, you’re among good company. Halitosis, the medical term for bad breath, affects 25 percent of the U.S. population. While bad breath can be related to what you ate recently, more often it’s related to tooth decay and gum disease. When bacteria causes dental decay, the damaged cells can release an unpleasant odor.

Fortunately, professional teeth cleanings and gum treatment can 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

We offer patients an oral cancer screening as part of their first visit to our office. It is a quick, painless test that allows the dentist to see signs of oral cancer that are not visible to the naked eye. These screenings save lives by allowing oral cancer to be detected early.

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 . 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 everyone over the age of 18 gets screened.

Teeth Grinding & Night Guards

In addition to annoying your spouse, teeth grinding can wear down the enamel of your teeth. Also called bruxism, teeth grinding is a common condition 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
• A sore jaw upon waking up
• 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. 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 Forest Hill today at (561) 459-1488 to schedule your comprehensive dental exam. We offer convenient days and times for you to visit us.