The Importance of Oral Hygiene
You deserve dentists who prioritize your long-term oral health. Routine dental care isn’t just essential for maintaining the appearance of your smile — it also creates a foundation for a lifetime of whole-body health. As a result, routine preventative dentistry with our Holyoke, MA dentists can save you money, time, and pain from extensive dental procedures in the future.
Read on to discover the benefits of our preventative dentistry services.
Our Preventative Dentistry Services
Dental Exams and Checkups
Thorough exams from a dentist are crucial to your oral health. Frequent professional oversight into your oral hygiene can prevent oral health problems such as:
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Oral cancer
- Tooth infections
Your dentist will ensure that you have the best care possible as we search for even the most subtle signs of disease. Learn more about dental exams by visiting our Holyoke, MA dentist office.
Pediatric Dentistry
Your little ones can also benefit from oral health exams. Our expert dentists recommend you bring your child in for their first dental appointment when you can see their first tooth above the gum line or no later than their first birthday.
During this appointment, we’ll examine their gums, teeth, cheeks, and throat to look for signs of oral health problems. We’ll also gently clean your kids’ teeth, providing advice about how to keep their oral hygiene comfortable and healthy. As they grow, we’ll monitor their jaw development using periodic digital X-rays. This technology helps us prevent any orthodontic problems before they start!
Professional Teeth Cleanings
Along with daily brushing and flossing, you can keep plaque, tartar, and bacteria by visiting our Holyoke, MA dentists for professional teeth cleanings. During these appointments, we’ll clean your teeth with specialized dental tools that efficiently remove harmful plaque and tartar. These tools allow us to clean deeper into your gums and between your teeth than you usually can at home.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants protect your teeth from decay by closing off pits and fissures that could harbor harmful bacteria. They can protect your teeth from several potentially harmful dental issues, such as tooth decay.
While many dentists use these non-invasive treatments for children’s new adult teeth, dental sealants can help patients of any age keep cavities away. We’ll use a personalized, tooth-colored liquid solution that hardens into a smooth shell over your tooth, giving you a stunning smile that’s protected.
Tooth Extractions
While our Holyoke dentists do everything they can to save your natural teeth, certain situations require us to remove a tooth. Our dentists may recommend a tooth extraction for the following reasons:
- Impacted or dysfunctional wisdom teeth
- Damaged or decayed teeth
- Dental trauma
- A temporary tooth that fails to erupt
- Advanced periodontal disease
We’ll do everything in our power to ensure that your extraction is painless using a local anesthetic or, if you choose, one of our dental sedation options.
Gum Disease Treatment
Periodontal (gum) disease is an uncomfortable condition that can result in permanent oral health problems such as tooth loss, receding gumlines, and tooth decay. It’s caused by the buildup of plaque and tartar, which causes pockets to form beneath your gums. These pockets harbor bacteria and allow infections to thrive.
We’ll use an array of specialized tools to treat your gum disease. Scaling and root planing are commonly used procedures that help us remove the bacteria and keep it away from your sensitive tooth roots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can professional teeth cleanings damage my teeth?
No, teeth cleanings won’t damage your teeth since they prevent your teeth from becoming damaged by harmful bacteria. During a cleaning, we’ll clean out any debris, hardened plaque, and leftover pieces of food so they won’t decay your teeth any further.
Normally, teeth cleaning shouldn’t hurt, however, if it does, let your dental hygienist know if you’re feeling uncomfortable. There could be an underlying issue that contributes to your pain during the cleaning process. Having professional cleanings allows us to identify any dental issues and have them treated before they worsen.
Is gum disease life-threatening?
Gum disease isn’t exactly life-threatening. However, if gum disease progresses to advanced periodontitis, this stage can spread the infection through your bloodstream into the rest of your body. If left untreated, you’ll have an increased risk of heart disease.
Due to this reason, it’s important to watch out for any gum disease symptoms and immediately seek treatment before they can worsen. Fortunately, at Holyoke Mall Dental, we can treat gum disease before it advances.
Can my dental insurance cover my preventative treatments?
Most insurance providers should be able to cover most or a portion of the cost. Your insurance should be able to cover some of the cost since it’s considered preventative and restorative treatment rather than cosmetic. We highly encourage you to speak with your insurance provider to learn more about your coverage cost. We also offer flexible financing options so you don’t delay your treatment any longer.
Start Your Preventative Care at Holyoke Mall Dental
You’ll love the confidence you gain in your smile with regular preventative dental care at Holyoke Mall Dental. Our dentists and dental team will do everything to find the perfect treatment for your dental needs and protect your whole family from oral health problems.
If you’re looking to start your preventative care with our dentists, call our Holyoke office at (413) 538-7400 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced dentists. You can also fill out our online contact form and one of our staff will get back to you promptly. We’re proud to provide services in the Springfield area such as Westfield, Southampton, South Hadley, and more.
