Did you know your oral health relies on more than just your toothbrush and dental floss? The secret to a healthy smile also involves the preventive care you receive from your dentist. The American Dental Association recommends everyone has teeth cleanings and dental checkups with their Las Cruces, NM dentist at least twice a year. Although you may not feel the appointments are necessary, they are vital to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. By doing so, you reduce your long-term dental costs. At Painted Skies Dental Care, we provide the preventive services you need to develop a lifelong healthy smile.
During your appointment, we take the time to get to know you. Beside discussing your dental and medical history, we strive to build a trusted personal relationship with you to design treatment plans catering to your specific needs and your comfort level.
Although your toothbrush and floss are important for removing harmful food particles, bacteria, and plaque from your teeth, it is not enough. There are still areas in your mouth you cannot clean at home, like below the gum line. Plaque and tartar accumulate in these spaces, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
To remove the buildup, you need a professional cleaning twice a year. Our friendly dental hygienist uses special tools to clean the areas you missed at home. Your teeth are also polished to give you a clean smile. She takes the time to discuss your oral hygiene routine and makes recommendations for improvement to keep your teeth and gums healthy in between appointments.
Monitoring your dental health allows Dr. Ray and Dr. Natalie to detect areas of concern sooner to provide quick intervention to prevent the problem from worsening, like areas of weakened enamel. In addition to checking the health of your teeth to look for cavities, fractures, and other issues, the health of your gums is also checked. Using probing, the depths of the pockets where the tissue meets your teeth is measured to look for signs of gum disease.
To monitor areas not visible to the naked eye, digital x-rays are taken. This provides a complete picture of your oral health to look for issues that may be brewing beneath the surface, like infections.
Your dentist also takes the time to look for signs of oral cancer, like rough patches, to detect cancerous or precancerous cells sooner. He will also check your bite and temporomandibular joint to look for any abnormalities that may impact your oral health or your quality of life.
After your exam, an individualized treatment plan is created to help you reach your oral health goals. In some cases, we may recommend additional preventive treatments, like a fluoride varnish or dental sealants to further help to protect your teeth.
From the moment you step into our dental office, we treat you like family while giving you the high-quality care you deserve. If it has been more than 6 months since your last cleaning and checkup, contact our dental office today to schedule your next visit.