Jeffrey A. Tilson, D.D.S & Michael P. Fleitz, D.D.S
Comprehensive Oral Hygiene
One of the keys to healthy teeth and gums is comprehensive oral hygiene. It’s important to prevent disease before it starts. Our hygienists will review your dental history, perform a periodontal bone and gum assessment, and oral cancer screening, all at your first visit.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and Root Planing is a procedure that removes tartar (calculus) from the tooth, especially from below the gum line, along the root surface. Ultrasonic scalers, using high frequency vibration, blast away the hard tartar deposits. Then, special hand instruments called scalers and curettes are used to do fine scaling.
Because plaque is more likely to stick to rough surfaces, the root is smoothed down in a process called planning. This gets rid of any remaining tartar and bacteria.
For more information on this topic click here: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/periodontal_diseases.asp
Sealants
A sealant is a clear or tinted protective coating that is painted onto the chewing surfaces of the permanent molars. These teeth have grooves and crevices where food can get stuck and a toothbrush cannot reach. These sealants help prevent decay. This procedure requires no anesthetic and is painless.
We recommend sealing the first permanent molars on children soon after they erupt into the mouth.