Preventive Dentistry Is An Essential Part of Lifelong Oral Health

Dental Check-Ups

The American Dental Association recommends you see your dentist at least twice each year for a checkup. At your checkup, we will inspect your soft tissues for oral cancer, periodontal disease, and other problems. The dentist will also look at each tooth in your mouth to assess problems like tooth decay or cracks, as well as old dental work. Sometimes old dental work wears out and needs to be replaced. We will be happy to replace metal fillings, inlays, onlays, and crowns with tooth-colored alternatives.

By looking for trouble every six months, we can often reduce your potential for large dental problems. For instance, left untreated, a small cavity can grow to destroy an entire tooth and spread to surrounding teeth. A cracked tooth can cause pain or break off and create additional problems. Furthermore, advanced gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss for American adults, and oral cancer causes more than 7,500 deaths each year. Caught and treated early, these diseases can be controlled. Children as young as two should visit the dentist, and by age four or five, a child should attend regular checkups.

Dental Cleanings

Everyone over the age of four or five should visit the dentist for a professional hygiene appointment twice per year. Our gentle hygienists will inspect your gums for periodontal disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss for American adults. The hygienists are specially trained to detect, deter, and treat gum disease. We prefer to help you maintain optimal oral health so that you never have to worry about gum disease. However, if you develop periodontal problems, we're here to help you. If we find cause for concern, we may recommend that you change your oral healthcare routine or the products you use at home. We may also suggest a deep cleaning, which involves:

• Scaling to remove tartar from below the gum line.
• Root planing to smooth rough root surfaces where plaque builds up.
• Arestin antibiotic treatment to kill a bacterial infection.

Children’s Dentistry

Our office regularly cares for the dental needs of children as young as three years old. However, if you notice that your child has a problem with his or her teeth or gums prior to this age, please schedule an appointment. You may also want to bring your child to your dental checkup when he or she is about two so that your child can become familiar with the sights, sounds, and friendly helpers in our Plano dental office. We call this a Happy Visit. Your child's independent checkup at age three will involve a tooth-by-tooth inspection and periodontal exam. The dentist will check for proper development, as well as tooth decay and other areas of concern.

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Dental Sealants

Many people have deep pits and grooves in their teeth where bacteria and food particles can hide and cause decay. Children with poor brushing habits may also develop decay on hard-to-reach molars. For situations like these, dental sealants offer a means of protecting molar and premolar chewing surfaces from decay. Recognized by the American Dental Association as a key means of cavity prevention, dental sealants are simply a thin plastic film that can be applied to teeth.

Nightguards for Bruxism

Do you regularly experience jaw pain and tenderness, especially in the mornings? Do some of your teeth look overly worn down or even damaged with no known cause? These are tell-tale signs of bruxism, which is more commonly known as teeth grinding. Patients of all ages can experience teeth grinding, and most cases occur when the patient is asleep and unaware of a problem. Thankfully, a nightguard can provide plenty of quality protection. When worn, this personalized oral appliance creates a barrier that prevents the rows of teeth from meeting in harmful ways. As a result, patients can rest without worry and wake up free of pain.

Mouthguards / Sportsguards

Helmets, knee pads, shin guards…if you’re an avid athlete or the parent of one, you know the importance of proper protective gear. But did you know that up to 40 percent of all sports injuries involve the face? Protect your smile and your mouth with a comfortable, custom-molded mouthguard to dramatically reduce the risk of sports-related oral injury.

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Oral Cancer Screening

Most people don’t realize that oral cancer claims more lives than Hodgkin’s, skin cancer, and cervical cancer. About 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed this year, and half will die within five years. When oral cancer is diagnosed early, a person has better than an 80% chance of survival. Dr. Cheung is committed to oral cancer awareness and early detection. As your trusted family dentist, Dr. Cheung will assess your entire oral health, including screening soft tissues for oral cancer.

For early detection, our office uses ViziLite, an innovative system that uses a special light and dye to make oral cancer cells visible before they surface. First, you’ll rinse your mouth with a special solution. After dimming the room lights, the ViziLite wand will be used to illuminate any suspicious lesions in your mouth. If Dr. Cheung sees a reason for concern, he may order a biopsy to be sent to a lab for examination.

Fluoride Treatment

Most US tap water contains fluoride today. However, most bottled water doesn't. Many people have fluoride deficiency, which puts teeth at a greater risk for getting cavities. In some cases, parents think that they are protecting their babies by using bottled water to mix formula, but actually, tap water is better in this case. Many children pack bottled water in school lunches, and adults tend to toss a bottled water in the car instead of filling up a reusable water bottle with tap water.

Fluoride is an interesting mineral because it attracts other minerals and strengthens tooth enamel. At your checkup, we can determine whether your teeth would benefit from a fluoride supplement. If we find that your teeth could use a boost, we'll recommend a simple solution. Fluoride mouth rinse in many flavors is available at our Plano dental office. One quick rinse and your teeth will have a better chance of staying healthy. We offer supplemental fluoride for patients of all ages. Oftentimes, our hygienist will recommend additional ways to keep your fluoride levels up between dental visits. These may include switching to tap water or using a fluoride-rich mouthwash at home.

Oral Hygiene Products

At Esthetic Image Dentistry, our team is proud to use high-quality toothpaste, mouthwashes, and other oral healthcare products both inside the office and in our own homes. We’re always happy to help patients by recommending these items so that they can maximize the effectiveness of their oral hygiene routines at home. Choosing the right brands can actually make a bigger difference than you’d think.