Preventive Dentistry with Advanced Technology
Keeping You Healthy and Comfortable
Your well-being – it’s something we never take for granted. It is why we work so hard to keep you comfortable…and it is also why we emphasize the importance of your regularly scheduled exams and screenings. These dental exams and screenings allow us to look for developing signs of periodontal disease, oral cancer, TMJ and even the earliest signs of tooth decay.
We know that when a problem is caught early, it is much easier and less expensive to treat and has much less impact on your systemic health.
And to ensure that our screenings are the most accurate available, we have invested in the latest technology such as digital x-rays, intra-oral cameras and panographic x-ray equipment to allow us to get a detailed overview of your entire mouth including your teeth, jawbone, sinuses and other parts of your head and neck.
Each exam room has a computer for easy storage and access of your screening results, allowing us to quickly access your information for comparisons and updates while keeping us green and paperless!
Oral Cancer Screenings to Keep You in Top Health
Believe it or not, oral cancer is one of the fastest growing of all cancers. In fact, every day, mouth cancer is diagnosed in about 100 individuals, which means thousands of people in the United States will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer this year alone. Moreover, oral cancer is not only disfiguring, it can be deadly.
Our office is proud to provide VELscope Vx: The Two-Minute Exam That Could Save Your Life! How many little sores do we find in our mouths? Dozens? Hundreds? More? Most of the time we ignore the, and they simply go away. But sometimes our mouths keep secrets. That's why we use the VELscope Vx Enhanced Oral Assessment system. The VELscope Vx exam helps us improve our assessment of your overall oral health, ensure that the delicate tissues of your mouth are healthy and protects you from oral disease, including oral cancer. VELscope exams are safe and inexpensive, take only 2-to-3 minutes and are completely pain-free. Our patients also appreciate the fact that no distasteful rinses or messy dyes are involved.
While smoking and tobacco use are still major risks factors for oral cancer, the fastest growing segment of oral cancer patients is young, healthy, nonsmoking individuals due to the connection to the HPV virus. Early detection is the key to curing oral cancer. The 5-year survival rate is dramatically improved with early detection.
Gum Disease and Periodontal Care for Whole Body Health That Matters
When you notice someone’s beautiful, healthy smile, you are usually noticing teeth. But there is more to that smile than may first meet the eye. The gums are the very foundation for a healthy smile – and a healthy body.
First, gums keep your teeth in place. When your gums become infected, it can destroy the bone around the teeth and lead to tooth loss.
Beyond tooth loss, periodontal disease affects overall health. Study after study shows that gum disease can have surprising affects on your body. Gum disease causes systemic inflammation, which elevates the risk factor for a number of serious conditions such as heart attack, stroke, premature/low birth-weight babies, complications of diabetes and respiratory conditions.
Gum disease can be similar to high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, in the sense that you may not know you have it until you are professionally checked for it. And since the American Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 adults will have some form of gum disease, at some point in their lives, regular periodontal screenings are critical!
Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease
- gums that bleed when brushing and flossing (healthy gums do not bleed)
- receding gums
- swollen gums
- red, inflamed gum
- sore gums
- bad breath
- teeth that are moving or shifting
- visible tartar at the gum line
Gum Disease Treatment
If we do find that you have signs of gum disease, we will treat you with the most gentle and effective methods available. We will start by utilizing the Proselect Ultrasonic Scaler. This instrument produces a soft ultrasonic vibration combined with a medicated solution to provide us with an innovative, gentle and ultra-effective method of removing tartar and harmful bacteria below the gum line. Scaling and root planing are often the treatment of choice, depending upon the severity of the disease.
We may also use a local antibiotic, Atridox, an antibiotic composed of tiny microspheres that can last for up to 21 days. These treatments are placed inside the infected gum pockets to kill bacteria and help heal the gum tissue.
We also recommend that all of our periodontal patients use the Rota Dent professional rotary plaque remover at home to help them better clear any plaque under the gums and between the teeth.
A Clear Dental Vision – Intra-Oral Cameras
During your exams and screenings, Dr. Clauss and his hygienist will take you on a tour of your mouth with our digital intra-oral camera.
This camera is helpful as a diagnostic tool because of the astonishing magnification power. It is a great way for patients to clearly understand the need for any recommended treatment, and many patients have commented how cool it is to be able to see inside their mouths – you can actually see what Dr. Clauss or your hygienist is explaining. This clear visual makes the intra-oral camera a fantastic educational tool, allowing you to fully participate in your treatment.
If we do find any signs of decay we can quickly and comfortable repair and restore your teeth with metal-free fillings, or porcelain inlays or onlays.
Diagnostic Clarity – Digital X-Rays
Digital x-rays have such superior clarity, they allow Dr. Clauss to provide a more accurate diagnosis. Because the images are digital, they can be enlarged, enhanced and contrasted using our advanced dental computer software. The improved view of your mouth leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment of any dental problems.
Not only are they more accurate, they are also more comfortable in your mouth. Best of all, digital x-rays expose our patients to about 80-90% less radiation.
Each treatment room at Simply Dental is equipped with a TV monitor in front of the dental chair. Whenever you have x-rays taken, Dr. Clauss and his hygienist will display them on the monitor so you can view them too. Our patients are thrilled with this educational feature and say that it truly aids in communication and education.
An All Around View – Panographic X-Rays
Panographic x-rays show an overview of your mouth, letting us see the full oral cavity including your teeth, jawbone, sinuses and neck. This image allows us to assess the bite position of TMJ patients, check on wisdom teeth, evaluate for dentures and implants, and even screen for issues such as abscesses, sinus problems, and receding bone levels caused by periodontal disease.