Grand Rapids Preventative Dental Services

Preventative dentistry covers several routine dental services, such as exams, cleanings, fillings and occasionally, emergency dentistry. At Great Lakes Dental Care, our primary goal is simple: to prevent your need for extensive restorative or cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Through regular maintenance, our Grand Rapids Dental Practice can help you prevent poor oral health due to decay and disease — problems that can negatively affect your overall health and well-being. Maintaining good oral hygiene remains one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth and gums help you to not only look and feel good, but they allow you to eat and speak properly.

Great Lakes Dental Care’s experienced dentists, Dr. Webb, Dr. Kragt, Dr. Sarah De Zwaan, Dr. Drew De Zwaan, Dr. Carey, Dr. Krupiak, Dr. Spavor, Dr. Nicole Vince and Dr. Alyssa Marsh, stress the fact that daily preventative care — such as proper brushing and flossing — can prevent problems from developing. Between regular visits to our full-service Grand Rapids dental office, there are simple steps you can take to greatly decrease your risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental or medical problems.

Brush thoroughly twice a day and floss daily
Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks between meals
Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste
Rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse if your dentist advises you to
Make sure that children under 12 drink fluoridated water
Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and exams
Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months

The following are indications of good oral hygiene:

Teeth are clean and free of debris
Gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss
Bad breath is not a constant problem

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Professional Cleanings

The best way to prevent excessive plaque buildup is to schedule a professional cleaning with an experienced dentist or dental hygienist every six months. Plaque that is left untreated can lead to unhealthy gums and tooth decay. A routine dental cleaning lasts about 30 minutes and will usually include scaling and polishing.

At Great Lakes Dental Care, our gentle professional cleanings will help you to preserve your teeth and gums. While having a cavity filled may seem uncomfortable, compared to root canal therapy or tooth extractions, it is much less painful. If you have not scheduled your next professional cleaning, contact us today and avoid the cost and discomfort of extensive dental restorations.

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Gum Disease Treatments (Periodontal)

The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for your teeth. These structures as a whole are also referred to as the periodontum. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house.

Some signs of an unhealthy periodontium include gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these may be a sign of problem. With proper gum treatments, however, it may be possible to return gum tissue to a healthy state. If gum disease is not treated at the first sign of a problem and becomes too severe, it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction.

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Comprehensive Examinations

In order to maintain a healthy smile, it is important that the dentists at Great Lakes Dental Care perform comprehensive examinations of your overall oral health. Using advanced dental technology, such as digital x-rays, we can effectively monitor the condition of your teeth and identify early signs of decay.

Comprehensive exams allow our professional team to assess the condition of your gums and their position along your teeth. Early detection of periodontal disease can save your smile. Our knowledgeable team will work with you to develop an examination schedule that matches your oral health requirements.

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Material Fillings

Dental fillings restore teeth damaged by decay back to their normal shape and function, and are a vital aspect of your overall oral health.

If you have a tooth that requires a filling, our knowledgeable Grand Rapids dentists will remove the decayed material, clean the affected area and then fill the cavity with a filling material. This filling will help to prevent further decay by closing off any cracks or spaces where bacteria can enter and cause harm to the tooth.

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Sealants

Sealants are used as a preventative measure to help fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In many individuals, their tooth structure may have several fine grooves or pits, which can accumulate plaque.

This is usually not caused by brushing improperly or infrequently, but simply because these fine grooves or pits may be too narrow to allow even one bristle inside for cleaning. Unfortunately, if not taken care of properly, these tiny grooves will develop cavities over time. To prevent this, our professional dentists or dental hygienists may brush a coating onto the tooth or teeth that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy and free from decay.

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Emergency Dentistry

Emergency dentistry becomes critical if you have been in an accident or have experienced injury to your teeth, mouth or jaw. Instead of enduring painful suffering and possible permanent damage, contact our Grand Rapids dentist office immediately if you may need emergency dentistry services. Delaying treatment for a dental emergency may increase the risk of permanent damage resulting in more extensive and costly restorative dental treatments.

Whether you lose a filling, chip or break a tooth or need to relieve unbearable tooth pain, don't put off emergency dentistry treatment any longer. Contact our West Michigan Dental office today.

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For additional information on our expansive preventative dental services please contact us today to schedule an appointment, or call or text us at 616.784.6300.