At Fairmount Dental Center, we offer a variety of preventive dental services to meet your specific oral healthcare needs. From regular prophylaxis dental cleanings to more precise periodontal work, our trained and certified team is always learning the latest techniques and technologies to ensure you are getting the best in-office care.

We work with you to maintain your smile with regular dental cleanings and exams, diagnostic imaging with x-rays and intra-oral photos, and strive for patient education; providing tools and tips to achieve the best care both in-office and at home.

Why are dental cleanings important?

No matter how often or thorough we brush and floss at home, we all miss a spot or two. Not only can that lead to dental cavities, but when ignored for too long, it can lead to periodontal disease.
Our recommendation is a dental cleaning at least twice a year where we can thoroughly remove any plaque (soft build up) and calculus (hard build up or tartar).

What does a cleaning entail?

Cleanings are very simple and straight forward. After going over any medical or dental changes, your hygienist or a certified dental assistant will begin removing any soft or hard build up, bacteria, or any other debris from around and between your teeth. With each dental cleaning, you will have scaling, either with a hand instrument or a special water scaler that flushes build up out between your teeth, polishing with a special dental pumice (gluten-free with a variety of flavors to choose from), and flossing.

As each person is different, your cleaning may be more frequent than every 6 months, the sequence of your cleaning may be in a different order (such as polishing and flossing first rather than at the end), or it may entail extra steps such as fluoride application or other preventive work.

We work hard to ensure your care is not only thorough, but comfortable and relaxing. Consider it a spa day for your teeth!

Much like dental cleanings, dental exams are an important step in maintaining your smile and are recommended at least twice a year. With routine exams and the help of dental x-rays, Dr Luisa evaluates your teeth and surrounding structures, monitoring your oral heath condition and ensuring any issues are addressed before they become a problem.

With a more conservative approach to treatment, we want to be able to spot and diagnose issues before they become more serious. Often times, treatment can be postponed with improved homecare, additional fluoride use, or even minimally invasive restorative work.

What is included in a dental exam?

Whether you are coming in as a new patient for your first appointment in our office or are in for a routine dental cleaning, Dr Luisa will always complete a thorough check of not just your teeth, but every part of the oral cavity and surrounding structures.
She begins with a head and neck palpation, checking any internal or external soft tissue areas for anything out of the ordinary. After she evaluates your tongue, lips, and cheeks, she then looks at your teeth.
With the help of dental x-rays, she is able to see your teeth and the surrounding structures and evaluate for dental cavities or any other concerns that would otherwise be invisible such as root fractures, bone loss, abscesses and more.

If there is any treatment needed, our helpful front-office staff can work to make you a treatment plan and get you scheduled for continued care.

If you have any appliances or prosthetics such as orthodontic retainers, nightguards, or dentures, they are also evaluated to ensure proper fit and that you are able to take care of them at home.

Dental exams are critical for helping you maintain oral health and it is important that you are seen regularly so we can monitor your teeth and stay ahead of any pain or other issues.

As every smile is different, some dental cleanings may need to be more thorough or more frequent than others. Periodontal disease is an oral health condition that is the result of a bacterial infection. When dental cleanings are infrequent or homecare is inadequate, plaque and bacteria can accumulate around your teeth and irritate your gums which can lead to inflammation and swelling. The earliest warning signs of periodontal disease are red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush and floss at home, chronic bad breath, and gum recession.

Left untreated, this can cause boneloss, tooth mobility, and can lead to systemic issues as well. Studies show that untreated periodontal disease can cause or worsen other health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

How is periodontal disease treated?

Once your periodontal condition is evaluated, we have various treatment options available to stop progression and get your oral health back on track.

Whether its deeper cleanings where our dental hygienist is able to scale below your gumline to remove any hard build up and bacteria, more frequent appointments, or surgical intervention, our office is dedicated to getting you back on track so we can maintain your smile and improve your oral health.

At Fairmount Dental Center, we believe that prevention is the most important tool you can have when maintaining your oral health. With regular cleanings, dental exams, proper homecare, and additional preventive measures, some patients can go years without needing dental treatment.

Dental Prevention with Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural, cavity-fighting mineral that is known to help strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Everyone can benefit from the use of fluoride, not just kids! Whether its a fluoride treatment after your dental cleanings, prescription strength fluoride toothpaste, or the use of alcohol-free fluoride mouthrinses at home, fluoride is your best friend when it comes to preventing tooth decay.

Nightguards

Whether we notice it or not, we put our teeth through a lot! Teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) is a common condition that most patients suffer from, some without even knowing it! Sore jaws, tooth sensitivity, excessive wear, and cheek or tongue biting are all signs of grinding. Left untreated, this can lead to broken fillings, root notching, headaches, tooth pain, or TMJ (temproromandibular joint) issues. Although it’s easier to catch ourselves clenching and grinding during the day, at night our teeth are completely vulnerable to grinding.

A night guard (also known as an occlusal guard) is a small device that fits over either your top or bottom teeth that you wear at night to help prevent grinding. At Fairmount Dental Center, we office nightguards that are custom-made just for you to help reduce discomfort and ensure a nice, even bite with the goal that any grinding you do (whether involuntarily or not) affects the nightguard, not your teeth!