The best way to prevent problems with your teeth and gums is with routine dental care. Brushing and flossing play a significant role in this dental health maintenance, as does visiting your dentist on a regular basis.
The American Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist every six months for a thorough check-up. This will keep your teeth and gums healthy and ensure you maintain your beautiful smile.
By visiting your dentist on a regular basis you can:
When you go in for your checkup, your dentist will do a thorough visual inspection of your teeth and gums, looking for any beginning signs of tooth decay or gum disease. Usually, every other visit your dentist will want x-rays taken in order to see what’s happening beneath the surface of your teeth. These images help to discover any insipient problems not visible to the naked eye.
If any problems are encountered during the exam, they can be taken care of immediately, thereby preventing any larger difficulties.
After your dentist has completed the exam, you will be turned over to the dental hygienist. This dental specialist is highly trained in many facets of dental care, including teeth cleaning and assisting patients in understanding how to perform the best routine at-home maintenance.
During your visit to the office, the hygienist will swiftly and carefully clean your teeth using a variety of instruments. He or she will remove the plaque and tartar that have built up on your teeth, below the gum line. Then the hygienist will floss, polish, and apply fluoride.
Teeth cleanings usually aren’t painful, but communicate with your hygienist about any pain or discomfort you feel (or are afraid you might feel). They’re used to this and will do their best to keep you comfortable.
After the cleaning, you will receive instructions or recommendations regarding your brushing and flossing routine.
Then, you can head home, happy in the knowledge that you’ve taken care of an important part of your overall health and well-being.
Cornelius Dentistry utilizes state-of-the-art technology designed to make your visit more comfortable, effective, and efficient. We also use only premium materials and work with the area’s best laboratories in the area to ensure that you receive dental restorations that are reliable, durable, and esthetically pleasing.
X-rays are a critical tool that Dr. Woodruff uses to determine if there are any concerns in your mouth internally. They’re important because they can help her detect issues such as tooth decay, infections, and gum disease in their earliest stages, which allows you to treat these concerns early with less invasive treatment procedures – before they hurt. We recommend that x-rays be taken at least once per year to monitor your oral health.
At Cornelius Dentistry, we’ve chosen to use digital x-rays because these are much safer for both our patients and the environment. Digital imaging emits 90% less radiation than x-rays used in the past, and they don’t require harsh chemicals for developing, making them less harmful to the environment.
Digital x-rays are also readily available for review so Dr. Woodruff can discuss your treatment needs with you right away. They offer a clearer image for a more accurate diagnosis. They’re also easy to share with other providers you’re working with, if necessary.
We use digital x-rays to provide you with a more pleasant and comfortable experience, while also giving you an accurate and timely treatment diagnosis so you can make educated decisions about the dental procedures that are right for your needs.
At Cornelius Dentistry, we believe that consistent preventative care is truly the key to achieving and maintaining optimum oral health. For most patients, we recommend a cleaning and checkup every six months. Patients who are managing gum disease may need additional cleanings throughout the year to keep their condition at bay.
Regular checkups are important because we’ll screen you for concerns such as tooth decay, cavities, oral cancer, and periodontal (gum) disease. These issues are best treated in their earliest stages, which allows you the opportunity for a more successful recovery with less invasive treatment procedures.
Professional cleanings are important to eliminate the plaque buildup that contributes to issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Our hygienist will also teach you about the importance of your oral health and proper brushing and flossing techniques you can use at home to make the most of your home care routine.
If you do find yourself facing gum disease, our team is well equipped to help you manage your condition with deep cleanings and products to help support your home care routine. Our goal is to help you maintain your natural teeth for a lifetime, and preventative care is the first step.
We welcome children to Cornelius Dentistry, and we recommend that parents bring their children in for their first appointment around the age of 2 or 3 years old. We’ll ensure that your child feels comfortable and welcome at their first visit and every appointment thereafter.
During their first visit, we’ll spend time acclimating them to the “big chair” and the tools and instruments we use. We’ll also count and examine their teeth, which gives us an opportunity to make you aware of any developmental concerns we might see early on. As they get older and more comfortable at our office, we’ll incorporate cleanings into their visits.
For older children, we may recommend additional services such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments, which help build, strengthen, and protect teeth from decay.
If your child participates in sports, we’re happy to recommend the right protective wear for their teeth and mouth. Protective wear is important as sports injuries account for around 40% of dental emergencies. Custom mouth guards typically offer better protection than the generic guards found at the sporting goods store.
We look forward to getting to know your child over the years and meeting their dental needs.