Preventive Dentistry 

At the Amery House prevention is our priority to help our patients avoid dental disease or to catch it in its early, more treatable stages.

We feel it is essential to educate our patients to have the skills and knowledge to preserve their natural dentition and supporting structures of the mouth.

Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet.  It is continued in the practice by the work of the dentist and the dental hygienist who promote, restore and maintain your oral health. It is truly a team effort!

Fissure Sealants

Fissure sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting you teeth from decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth which have deep crevices (pits and fissures) and are therefore vulnerable to decay. The sealant forms a hard, smooth shield that prevents food and bacteria getting into the tiny grooves and also makes the surface easier to clean.

Fissure sealants have been used in Dentistry for many decades and provide a very effective means of preventing tooth decay.

Reasons for sealing teeth:

Children and teenagers:  We usually recommend fissure sealant treatment for children when their first permanent teeth come through, at the age of 6-7 years, or any time throughout the cavity prone years of  6-16.

Adults:  Any permanent tooth without decay that has deep pits and fissures.

Baby Teeth: Occasionally baby teeth are sealed if they have deep pits and fissures and a child is cavity prone. 

Sealant Application:

Sealants are applied easily and painlessly by your dentist or dental hygienist. No drilling is required and the process only takes a couple of minutes per tooth. The tooth is properly cleaned, treated, dried, and the sealant applied. It then hardens to form a protective coating over the tooth.

Regular maintenance by your dentist will aid in the life of fissure sealants as well as proper home care and a balanced diet.

 Dental Exam & Hygiene

Dental Exam:

At your initial visit, a comprehensive dental examination will be performed by your dentist. Your regular check up will consist of an examination of more than just your teeth. The dentist and hygienist will examine and report on the following:

* Examination of your teeth: Tooth surfaces will be checked for any decay, cracks or chips. Also current restorations will be examined and checks will be made for any malformations or disorders of the teeth. Catching small areas of decay early saves tooth structure and thereby helps keep your teeth for a lifetime.

* Gum disease evaluation: The gums and bone around the teeth will be checked for any signs of periodontal disease.  Gum disease is responsible for premature tooth loss. Studies indicate that the bacteria from gum disease is linked to heart disease and other systemic diseases.

* Oral cancer screening: As part of our examination we check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues and gums for any suspicious lesions. With early detection and treatment oral cancer in many cases can be successfully eliminated.

* Examination of Dental X-Rays: Routine dental x-rays are essential for the detection of decay, tumors, cysts and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.

* Intraoral Camera Evaluation: Photos are taken of your teeth using a high tech intraoral camera. The camera enlarges them forty times revealing cracks and abnormalities not always visible to the naked eye.

* TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) and Facial Muscle Evaluation: Jaw muscles and joints are checked for any dysfunctions which can be as minor as slight clicking or popping sensations or as severe as persistent pain extending into the face, neck and shoulders.

Dental Hygiene:                       

Professional dental cleaning are usually performed by Dental Hygienists. We advise our patients to visit the Hygienist regularly as part of a preventive treatment plan.

Regular visits to the hygienist play a vital role in the prevention of tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. The hygienist can discuss your diet; suggest ways to improve and maintain your oral health; and even advise you on ways you can give up smoking, a habit which has proven to be very damaging to teeth and gums.

Your hygiene appointment will include a dental exam and the following:

* Removal of calculus (tartar):  Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for some time and becomes firmly attached to the tooth. A technique called scaling and polishing is used to removed the calculus above and below the gum line. Calculus can only be removed by a dentist or hygienist using special instruments.

* Treatment of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontal disease):  This is caused by plaque which is a sticky biofilm of bacteria, food debris and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins that cause the gums to become inflamed. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease.

* Teeth Polishing: Stain and plaque is removed that is not otherwise removed during daily brushing.

* Teaching oral hygiene techniques: Individually tailored to the patient's needs.

Dental X-Rays:

Radiographs are a diagnositic tool we could never practice without.  At the Amery House we use state of the art, low radiation digital x-rays.

Many patients have said that with dental digital x-rays it is easier to understand the course of any treatment that may need to be taken. This is because the patient is able to view the image enlarged on a screen in front of them rather than trying to interpret a small piece of film held up to a light box.

Dental radiographs are very important as they provide valuable information not visible to the naked eye.  Dentists and hygienists use this information to detect hidden dental abnormalities and complete an accurate treatment plan. Without dental x-rays, problem areas may go undetected.

Dental X-rays may reveal:

* Small areas of decay in the teeth and below existing restorations

* Diseases of the bone

* Abscesses or cysts

* Signs of periodontal (gum) disease

* Developmental and other abnormalities

* Some types of tumors

* Evidence of trauma 

* Poor tooth and root positions 

Safety:

Dental x-rays produce low levels of radiation.  Because our x-ray machines are digital your radiation exposure is reduced by about 80 percent!

Digital x-rays are safe not only for our patients but also for our community because there are no chemicals or lead wrapper waste to dispose of into the environment.

Home Care:

At the Amery House our goal is to eliminate dental disease to improve your oral health and to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. Your personal home care plays an important role in achieving this goal.

Good oral hygiene starts by having a balanced diet, reducing sugar intake by the amount of snacks you consume and correctly using various dental aids. Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of dental and medical problems such as gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease, strokes and more. 

Tooth brushing:  

* Spend at least 2 minutes brushing making sure you brush the outer, inner and biting surfaces of each tooth.

* Hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle towards the gumline and gently brush using a small, circular motion.

* Pay extra attention to the hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restorations.

* Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath. 

Remember to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months.

Electric toothbrushes are also recommended and do a lot of the work for you. Simply place the bristles of the toothbrush where the teeth meets the gumline and allow to brush to do its job, several teeth at a time.

Flossing:

Correct flossing removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot reach. Because plaque build up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, daily flossing is highlyrecommended. 

It is important to note that if you do not clean the surfaces between your teeth you'll be missing out on cleaning 40% of your teeth.

* Take 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) of dental floss and wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two to work with.

* Hold the floss tautly between your thumb and index finger and gently slide it up and down between your teeth.

* Curve the floss into a "C" shape around each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline. (As shown in the picture).  

Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.