At Sackheim Dental we know that preventative measures in oral hygiene are the only way to keep your teeth and gums naturally healthy and beautiful. Dental cleanings and examinations by a professional at least once every 6 months help keep your teeth white while preventing threats to teeth and gum health including plaque build-up, cavities, and gum disease.
More Information
Dental Exams and Cleanings
Exams
At your dental check-up, Dr. Sackheim will see you for a comprehensive dental exam that will include:
- An examination of digital x-rays (radiographs). These radiographs are essential for detecting decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss as well as determining tooth and root positions.
- We will perform an oral cancer screening, where we check the neck, face, lips, tongue, throat, and gum tissues for any signs that might indicate oral cancer.
- Our gum disease evaluation involves an examination of the gums and bone around the teeth.
- When checking for tooth decay, we will look for anything that jeopardizes the health of the teeth including decay and cracks.
- Existing dental work such as fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, and implants will also be examined and evaluated.
Professional Cleanings
Your professional dental cleaning will be performed by one of our highly trained and always friendly dental hygienists. During your cleaning appointment you can expect the following:
- We will perform a dental exam as explained above.
- Your hygienist will remove calculus (tartar), a hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth, enabling build-up that is firmly attached to the surface of the tooth. Tartar forms above and below the gum line, and after a while it can only be removed with dental instruments during a professional cleaning.
- The removal of plaque is also a necessary part of your cleaning. Plaque is a sticky, barely visible film that forms on the teeth. It is a culmination of food debris, saliva, and living bacteria that produce toxins that cause gum inflammation. This inflammation leads to periodontal (gum) disease.
- Finally, we will polish the teeth to remove stains and plaque that could not be removed during brushing and scaling. If further prevention measures are necessary, we may apply sealants and fluoride for teeth protection.
Deep Cleanings
Dental deep cleaning is also referred to as Scaling and Root Planing. This type of cleaning is different than your regular dental cleaning. In a dental deep cleaning, debris that has accumulated beneath the gum line is removed. In a regular cleaning the surfaces of the teeth and the area above the gum line is cleaned and polished. Once tartar has settled below the gum line, it cannot be removed with home practices such as brushing and flossing or by a regular dental cleaning. This presents a threat to the health of the teeth, gums, and bone. Scaling and Root Planing are common practices for removing tartar that has accumulated and become a threat. These treatments are only performed after an in depth examination of the mouth, including X-rays, a visual exam, and a diagnosis.
Scaling
A procedure that is performed with dental instruments that remove tartar and plaque from the crown and root surfaces. This process also reduces oral bacteria that can cause gum infection and disease.
Root Planing
Serves to remove unwanted tartar, toxins, and microorganisms that have settled in the surface dentin of the root. Root planing smoothens the root of the affected tooth so that a healing process can begin. Clean root surfaces prevent bacteria from further colonizing. Scaling and Root Planing are beneficial procedures that require minimal recovery and a lot of results. Benefits include:
- Tooth protection from dangerous bacteria and chronic inflammation that could lead to tooth and bone loss.
- Better breath, and who doesn’t want fresh breath?! When food particles or bacteria accumulate below the gum line, this can cause a persistent unpleasant odor in the mouth.
- Teeth will become more visually appealing when stains are removed in the process of scaling and root planing.
- Disease prevention from these procedures occurs when oral bacteria is removed, reducing the risk of infection and inflammation.
Local anesthetic may be needed if the current conditions of the gums, amount of tartar build-up, and progression of gum disease make the procedures more challenging. Recovery from scaling and root planing is usually quite simple. You may be prescribed antibiotics or over-the-counter pain reliever. Instructions for care will also be shared with you.
Fluoride Treatment
When applied directly to the teeth, fluoride is an effective agent that helps prevent tooth decay while strengthening and protecting the tooth’s enamel. This mineral is naturally occurring in food and water supplies, and benefits of the use of topical fluoride have been reported for over 50 years by many health organizations and professional services.
How it works:
- Topical fluoride strengthens teeth by making them less susceptible to decay. Fluoride is found in toothpaste, mouth rinse, and gels. Your dental hygienist may apply fluoride in the form a gel or foam.
- For children, a professional application of topical fluoride twice a year during their dental check-ups will greatly reduce the risk of cavities.
- Systemic fluoride also strengthens teeth that have grown above the gum line as well as those that are developing beneath the gums. Systemic fluoride is found in most community food and water supplies. It is not healthy to ingest too much fluoride, especially for children who have teeth that are still developing. It is wise to monitor fluoride intake. Too much fluoride may result in white or brown spots on the surfaces of the teeth.
Reasons for Treatment
You may require home or professional fluoride treatments if you have or experience:
- Deep pits on the chewing surfaces of the teeth
- Poor oral hygiene habits
- Poor diet with heavy sugar intake
- Not enough systemic fluoride
- Chronic dry mouth
- History of dental decay
Neither systemic fluoride, topical fluoride, or the combination of the two will prevent tooth decay without additional personal and professional practices that include brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, and attending regular dental visits.
Sealants
Sealants protect teeth from decay and cavities. A sealant protects and coats the surface of molars and deep grooves in the teeth. This is important because most dental decay begins in these deep pits and grooves in the teeth. When decay reaches deep into the grooves, it is likely that the affected tooth will produce a cavity. Children are especially susceptible. Sealants make a smooth surface that is easy to clean. Sealants need to be checked at regular dental visits for chipping and wear.
You May Need a Sealant if:
- You are a child with baby teeth with deep grooves
- You are a child or teenager that is particularly susceptible to decay and cavities.
- You are an adult that has teeth with deep grooves and depressions
- You are an adult and have a history of being prone to cavities
What do sealants involve?
- Getting a sealant requires a simple office visit. The process of applying a sealant only takes a few minutes for each tooth
- Before applying the sealant, the teeth are thoroughly cleaned and surrounded with cotton. This keeps the area clean and dry
- We rinse and dry the teeth
- The sealant is painted onto the enamel surface in order to cover the deep grooves in the teeth. This creates a nice smooth surface on the tooth. The sealant material dries very quickly
Sealants are never a complete solution to cavities and tooth decay. Proper personal care at home, a good diet, and regular visits to your dentist will prolong the life of sealants once they are on your teeth.
Digital X-rays
Digital X-ray imaging uses digital X-ray sensors to produce enhanced computer images of the oral infrastructures and conditions. This is different than the traditional x-ray film, and with this technology, radiation is reduced by up to 90%. Instant view and image enlargement help your dentist detect problems more quickly and easily. Dental X-rays are essential for prevention and making a diagnosis. Cavities, abscesses, bone loss, and other dental pathology will be detected; from there a treatment plan that is unique to your needs will be implemented. Dental X-rays may reveal:
- Abscesses or cysts
- Bone loss
- Cancerous tumors and tissues
- Tooth decay
- Abnormalities in development
- Tooth and root positions
- Problems below the gum line
Are Dental X-rays Safe?
Radiation is a naturally occurring phenomenon in our every day environment. Dental X-rays used in the dentist office produce a significantly lower amount of radiation as compared to traditional dental x-rays, making them a much safer imaging practice. They are also more comfortable and faster, reducing time spent in the dental chair. Digital X-rays do not need to undergo a development process, so the disposal of harmful chemical waste is no longer necessary. We take all possible precautions to limit our patients’ exposure to radiation. This includes only taking the necessary X-rays, and placing lead apron shields over the patient to protect the body from additional exposure.
How Often Should Dental X-rays be Taken?
Like any treatment, the need for dental x-rays depends on needs that are unique to the individual patient. Dr. Sackheim and your dental hygienist will recommend x-rays based on your medical and dental history after a dental exam has been conducted. Other things such as signs and symptoms of pathology, your age, and your risk of disease will also be considered. New patients will also take a full mouth series of dental x-rays. Bite-wing x-rays show the top and bottom teeth as they bite together. These are taken at check-ups and are typically recommended when new dental problems arise.
Panormaic X-Rays
This type of X-ray wraps around to show a photo of the face and teeth. They offer a view that is not visible to the naked eye. Panoramic X-rays show hidden structures and signs of cavities, fractures, and bone loss. They are simple to perform; the film is hidden within a mechanism that rotates around the outside of the head, capturing all sides of the jaw. These types of X-rays evaluate and expose the following:
- Issues that cause extreme gag reflex
- Progression of TMJ
- Sinus and adjacent teeth
- Impacted teeth that have not yet erupted above the gum line
- Fractures in the jawbone
- Cysts and other abnormalities
- Gum disease
- Previous dental work
How are panoramic X-rays taken?
Dr. Sackheim has invested in the latest technology in dental diagnostics, the Orthophos SL 3D by Sirona. This machine provides extremely high image quality, while reducing time and patient exposure to radiation, than compared to traditional X-ray machines. Panoramic X-rays are extremely helpful in revealing the positioning of wisdom teeth. They also tell whether dental implants will affect the nerve area that extends toward the lower lip. Equipment for the Panoramic X-ray consists of a rotating arm and a moving sensor. The patient stands or sits still for only a few seconds per capture while the X-ray generator moves around the head to take the picture. Panoramic X-rays are used for giving a proper diagnosis and planning future treatment options. The Orthophos SL 3D expands Sackheim Dental's efficiency in diagnosis and also gives them the technology to expand their capabilities.
To learn more about Orthophos SL 3D click the logo below or feel free to contact us!