Many believe daily brushing and occasional flossing is enough to keep a smile healthy for a lifetime. However, routine cleanings are vital to maintain good oral health.
Regular dental cleanings and exams help your smile stay healthy! During your cleaning, our dentists and hygiene team will gently clean your teeth and pinpoint any areas that could cause problems in the future. We will also meet with you to get to know you better and answer any questions you have about your oral health.
Dental cleanings and exams are two of the most basic yet important preventive treatments we provide at our office, and we take extra care during every appointment to make sure your smile stays free of issues. During your cleaning and exam, our hygiene team will:
To schedule your dental cleaning and checkup we invite you to call Potomac Dental Centre. We are committed to your oral health, so you can have a healthy and beautiful smile.
Your health is our priority. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss and is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia. Our hygienist will professionally clean the infected pockets around your teeth to prevent further damage to the gums and bone.
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, affects a high percentage of the adult population in the United States. It can lead to damaging results, such as tooth loss. Our dentist and dental hygienists offer periodontal disease detection and treatment to preserve your gum health.
Periodontal disease is a degenerative condition primarily caused by bacteria found in plaque. The bacteria inflame and infect the gum tissues. When left untreated, the gums can eventually begin to pull away from the teeth. Progressive periodontal disease can result in bone loss, tooth loss and gum tissue recession. You may need periodontal treatment if:
The treatment for gum disease is based upon your specific needs. Depending on the severity of the condition, our dentists may prescribe additional professional dental cleanings, improved at-home oral hygiene instructions, antibiotic treatment, scaling and root planing (deep cleanings), or gum surgery. We strive to help you restore your oral health and halt the progress of the disease. For more information on periodontal treatment, call Potomac Dental Centre or visit our office. We look forward to caring for your smile.
Did you know that oral health contributes to overall health? Do you have a family history of heart disease or diabetes? Harmful bacteria in the mouth contributes to 57 health conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia. Here at Potomac Dental Centre, we look at your overall health and offer a holistic dental approach. We offer OralDNA testing to check for harmful bacteria that may lead to chronic medical conditions. This tool helps assess treatment needed to prevent these diseases.
Potomac Dental Centre cares about your oral health. During your regular exams, our dentists will perform an oral cancer screening to check for any abnormalities to protect your oral health.
Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks, throat (pharynx), sinuses, and hard and soft palate. While oral cancer can usually be successfully treated when detected early, most cases of oral cancer are not detected until they have progressed into a more serious, advanced stage that is much more difficult to treat. In fact, oral cancer can be life-threatening.
At Potomac Dental Centre, we are dedicated to doing all we can to detect and treat oral cancers and other abnormalities at the earliest possible stage. During your routine dental cleanings and exams at our office, our dentist and hygienists will perform an oral cancer screening to check for the signs of oral cancer.
The following are common symptoms of oral cancer:
If you have questions about oral cancer screening, please call us. Our team will be happy to help.
Did you know that placing dental sealants on permanent molars can reduce the risk of cavities by 80%?
Many children have deep grooves in the chewing surfaces of their teeth that trap food and bacteria, and some children have a hard time brushing, especially their back teeth. Both of these situations lead to an increased risk of cavities. Luckily, our dentist and hygienists can correct these problems by offering dental sealants.
A sealant is a preventive dental treatment that our dentists may recommend to protect a patient’s teeth from decay. A dental sealant is made of a clear or tooth-colored resin material, which is painted onto the chewing surface of teeth. By blocking out the bacteria and food debris that lead to tooth decay, the sealant prevents decay and cavities. The dental sealant forms a smooth coating over the natural pits and grooves of the tooth surface, which also makes it easier to effectively clean teeth with normal brushing.
Dental sealants are most often recommended for children, especially for the permanent molars as soon as they come in, usually between the ages of 6 and 12 years. But we may also recommend dental sealants for adult patients whose teeth are prone to decay or have suffered from decay in the past. We can apply dental sealants in just one short, comfortable visit to our practice. We invite you to call Potomac Dental Centre if you or your child would like to receive dental sealants.
Prevention is important to avoid dental decay or sensitivity.
Fluoride treatments are one of the ways we at Potomac Dental Centre help our patients take a small and simple measure to help prevent dental issues. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps fight harmful bacteria and it strengthens the enamel of the tooth making it harder for decay to break through the outer layer of the tooth.
Many of our patients’ choose to have a fluoride treatment during their dental hygiene visit. Once the plaque and calculus (tartar) is removed during their cleaning, we apply the fluoride treatment to help seal and protect the enamel.
Our fluoride treatments help with prevention for up to 6 months from the application, helping protect from tooth decay.
