Preventive Dentist in Margate

Coming in for a cleaning every six months is a critical part of any preventive dentistry routine. Proper dental hygiene at-home is also important, but routine exams give us a chance twice a year to look for signs of cavities, gum disease, and other issues that may be harming your dental health. During these visits, we can catch potentially serious oral health conditions early and ensure you get the treatment you need. 
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Your cleaning will give you peace of mind. Not to mention, your smile will look great after your cleaning. We use specialized dental tools to remove surface stains, plaque, and tartar, and keep your enamel looking bright and beautiful.

To begin your appointment, one of our dental hygienists will perform an initial oral exam and look for any signs of serious or minor dental issues such as cavities or gum disease.

Your hygienist will then clean your teeth and remove any plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach places that cannot be reached with floss or a toothbrush alone. Once your teeth are clean, Dr. Jean will perform a comprehensive oral exam. He may recommend x-rays, too, if he believes they are necessary. Once his exam is complete, Dr. Jean will discuss his findings and recommend any follow-up treatments that may be necessary for your oral health.

If you are cavity-prone, fluoride treatments are a useful tool. Your Margate dentist will apply a fluoride-rich substance to your teeth, which helps remineralize them and reverse the effects of minor tooth decay. This treatment is completely non-invasive and painless, and it is an ideal way to prevent cavities from forming. During your next routine visit, ask your hygienist about fluoride treatments!

Yes! We offer Smile Perfected, a special whitening treatment that can be applied to your teeth during the process of your regular six-month cleaning and oral exam. Contact us for more details about this treatment and to schedule your next consultation at Lifestyle Dental Care.

In between your regular dental appointments, it’s important to keep up with your oral hygiene at home. You should use a soft-bristle toothbrush to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. We recommend that you brush for 2 to 3 minutes at a 45-degree angle and in gentle circular motions. 

Don’t forget to floss once a day! Most cavities are caused because of a lack of flossing, leading to cavities that form between the teeth. However, this is perfectly preventable. It’s best to floss before you brush your teeth so food particles aren’t left behind in your mouth, lingering there until the next time you brush. 

It’s also important to stay hydrated because a healthy amount of saliva helps wash away food particles and bacteria, which prevents cavities. It’s best to drink fluoridated water, which mineralizes your teeth to protect them from acid attacks that cause cavities. Avoid excessive sugar and frequent snacking.

X-rays are used to get a closer view of your teeth and gums to reveal problems that can’t be seen with the naked eye. We can look at tooth decay, gum disease, bone loss, and infections. X-rays are taken routinely about every 3 years to detect oral health problems early and prevent them from worsening. 

When gum disease is caught in the early stage, it can be reversed. However, if it’s not, it will cause irreversible damage to your gums and jawbone. Likewise, tooth decay, if caught early, can be treated with fillings. If not, you can lose your tooth. 

We may need to get a close look at the position of your wisdom teeth in your jaw to determine if they need to be removed. Digital x-rays emit a very small amount of radiation and we only use them as necessary to prevent serious oral health conditions. 

This is why it’s no longer standard practice to take x-rays every year. X-rays are a very useful tool in our dental arsenal since they let us get a magnified, high-definition view of the roots of your teeth, your gums, and your jaw so oral health problems don’t go undetected.

Yes, preventive dental care is widely covered by dental insurance. Dental cleanings, x-rays, oral exams, dental sealants, fillings, and fluoride treatments are typically covered by 80-100% because they prevent the need for invasive and costly treatment. 

Contact your insurance company to find out what preventive treatments they cover and to what extent. If you don’t have insurance, we offer an in-office membership plan at Lifestyle Dental Care that will lower your costs.