What Happens During a Dental Cleaning in Santa Cruz?

In order to maintain oral health, it is important to schedule a dental cleaning in Santa Cruz at least once a year. Maintaining proper oral hygiene at home is also necessary for healthy gums and teeth, but during a dental cleaning, you will receive a deeper, more thorough clean than is possible to implement in a home regimen. If you want to enjoy the long life of your teeth, begin visiting our dental office for a proper cleaning. We will perform a detailed dental service like the method we explain below when you see us at least twice a year for treatment.

Dental Discussion

During your visit, we will have a discussion about any worries you may have concerning your oral health. If you have noticed any abnormalities, have been experiencing any discomfort, or have had any alarming symptoms, now is the time to discuss these things with a dentist in our office. During the cleaning, a dental hygienist will keep an eye on these notes and then a dentist in our office will keep them in mind during the post-cleaning checkup.

Dental Cleaning in Santa Cruz

During the actual dental cleaning process, we will use specialized tools to access hard to reach areas of your teeth for a thorough plaque removal. Using a metal instrument called a scaler, the hygienist will remove any plaque or tartar (hardened plaque) from around the gums and teeth. Following this process, we will spray off any loose particles with a water stream. Next, we will then use a special textured toothpaste and polisher to remove any leftover plaque or surface staining. Following all of these detailed services, your teeth will receive a thorough flossing to remove any remaining particles or grime.  This dental cleaning will provide your teeth with a clean, smooth surface that will help you to combat plaque build up until your next visit.

Dental Examination

Following your cleaning, we will provide you with an examination to look for dental decay or gum infections. Using a metal probe, the dentist will check your gums for any swelling, bleeding, or discoloration. We will also gently prod your teeth to feel for vulnerable areas that may be an indication of dental caries. We may also check your bite to reveal any uneven developments and feel your cheeks beside your jawline for popping or grinding when you open and close your mouth. As a final measure, we will feel around your face and neck to find out if there is any swelling in your lymph nodes. If the swelling is occurring, it may be a sign of infection or even oral cancer.
A thorough dental cleaning in Santa Cruz, and a checkup will help ward off any dental decay or gum infection. A cleaning will also give us an opportunity to get to know your teeth and gums a little better so that we can determine if you might be at risk for oral cancer, periodontal disease, or any other serious oral health problems.

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Why Your Child Might Need Dental Fillings

Dental fillings become necessary when one or more teeth develop cavities. Cavities are typically caused by a combination of several factors that include frequent consumption of sugary food or drink, poor oral hygiene, not brushing and flossing as often as necessary, and irregular visits to your Santa Cruz dentist.  This can be especially difficult for children that love eating fruit snacks, having dessert, and simply do not know how to brush their teeth properly.

The primary cause of tooth decay is food debris that stays on the surface of the teeth for too long, allowing bacteria to accumulate on the surface. Over time, the bacteria become visible as a pale yellow, slimy layer called plaque. Acids from the bacteria in the plaque eat their way past the enamel or the hard protective outer shell of the tooth. Dental fillings are a way to preserve teeth that have developed cavities. Our Santa Cruz office starts by removing the cavity (decayed portion of your child's tooth).  We then need to restore their tooth structure and fillings are the way to do so.  Fillings prevent the bacteria reaching the soft inner layer of the tooth which, can not only cause a considerable amount of pain, but tooth loss as well.

Filling a Cavity

After numbing the area around the tooth (or teeth) that are experiencing decay, we will use a drill to slowly and thoroughly remove all the decayed parts of the tooth. Once we are satisfied that all the decay has been removed, we will clean all debris and bacteria out of the cavities and prepare it for the dental fillings.

Tooth Colored Fillings

Dental fillings can be made of various materials, including gold, porcelain and a silver amalgam which is made up of a combination of mercury, silver, and other metals. However, there are numerous people who do not like the idea of a 'metal mouth' and opt for a tooth colored composite resin fillings. This is especially true in the case of children who have developed cavities.

These more recently available plastic and ceramic compounds are called composite resins. They mimic the appearance of natural teeth which is especially important when front teeth are involved. However, depending on the extent of the decay they can also be used on the back teeth.

Because the composite resin is applied in layers, each of which has to be hardened or 'cured' using a light of a specific wavelength, these fillings take longer to place than some others. However, apart from the fact that they can be closely matched to the shade of existing teeth, they also bond to the tooth itself, which creates additional stability. Composite resins are also very versatile, and can be used to repair chipped or worn teeth.

The Importance of Treating Cavities in Young Children

If left untreated, decayed teeth in children can have devastating lifelong consequences. Baby teeth play a very important role in a child's appearance and speech development. If decay is left untreated, it can cause damage to permanent teeth that have not yet appeared. Dental disease has also been linked to a number of health issues for children including bacterial infections that require emergency surgery, and malnourishment,

While there is no question that prevention is far better than cure, if your child has already developed one or more cavities, do not wait to have them treated. Tooth-colored dental filling are an inconspicuous method of saving their teeth and preventing a host of potentially serious health issues.

Dentist  >  General Dentist