Our team wants to help every smile in your family stay strong and beautiful, which is why we offer treatment to help kids and adults alike. With a preventive approach, we can help you avoid issues like tooth decay and gum disease, and screen for oral cancer too. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS, dentist talks about our approach to family dentistry.
Starting with Your Exam
A dental exam is the first step in your journey to a better smile. For patients of all ages, from kids to adults, we can conduct an exam with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, using systems that employ a fraction of the radiation but provide high-definition results instantly chairside. These enable us to make a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, identifying concerns that need attention and then allowing us to create a personalized treatment plan to offer better results and brighter smiles. We look for issues like tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease, and screen for oral cancer too.
Dental Cleaning
In the same appointment as your dental checkup, our team will conduct a thorough dental cleaning for our patients and their families. The cleaning uses an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth. We then polish the teeth so it is more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to the surfaces of the teeth in between these visits. The cleaning helps fight cavities and gingivitis, and also limits the risk of bad breath and teeth stains too!
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is a serious oral health concern and one with a high mortality rate. According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, over 53,000 people are diagnosed each year and of that number half succumb to the disease in just five years. This is mainly due to the fact that the disease is rarely caught in the early stages. But our team can screen for it once a year for all ages, and when areas that are possibly cancerous or precancerous are discovered, we can discuss a biopsy and referrals for treatment. The earlier a diagnosis, the more likely a recovery. Warning signs could include sores, lesions, rough patches, and areas of red and white splotches that don’t heal after two weeks. Changes to your voice, sudden weight loss, and issues with persistent sore throat and hoarseness are also common indicators, so be sure to schedule your checkup and screening soon!
Preventive Care for Kids
Our team offers checkups and cleanings for kids, and in addition to improving oral health, these visits allow us to discuss better at-home oral hygiene routines, and become more accustomed to seeing the dentist so they’re less likely to develop dental anxiety as they grow older, and are more likely to continue seeing the dentist in adulthood, keeping smiles strong and disease-free.
We also have unique treatment to lower the risk of cavities forming in their smiles. For example, during reach checkup we can apply fluoride to the teeth in a varnish form to strengthen the outer enamel and make the onset of cavities less likely. The application only takes seconds! We can also add dental sealants to the rear teeth, the molars that are hard for kids to reach when they brush and floss. These sealants then lower the risk of tooth decay forming in the smile, and stay in place for up to ten years. Even as they wear away naturally, they cling the longest to rye more vulnerable portions of the teeth.
TMJ Disorder and Bruxism
Our approach to family dentistry also includes addressing issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism, jaw joint concerns that could weaken and damage teeth, and also lead to painful symptoms, like jaw and facial pain, headaches, and more. Our team can often offer relief with an oral appliance, a device that looks and fits like a mouthguard, but actually lowers the jaw to ease stress and strain, so you avoid these symptoms. These appliances also act as a barrier between the upper and lower teeth, so bruxism no longer damages your teeth through grinding or clenching.
If you have any questions about family dentistry, or about scheduling an appointment, then contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Need a Visit for Family Dentistry?
We want to help you maintain your healthiest smile and avoid issues that could lead to trouble down the road, which is why we offer family dentistry for patients of all ages. Call Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling (913)681-5500 to learn more about keeping smiles of all ages strong and healthy, and beautiful too!
