Did you know that proper oral hygiene is essential not only for your dental health, but to your overall health and well-being? Our comprehensive dental hygiene program at Smile Design Center is designed to preserve your teeth and the supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental disease.
To maintain your optimal oral health, we recommend visiting our Lutherville dental office for routine professional dental cleanings. This allows our team to aid in removing plaque and debris from the teeth, especially from places where a toothbrush can't reach, like underneath the gum line and between the teeth.
An integral part of our preventive program for adult and pediatric patients includes periodic fluoride treatments and the application of dental sealants. Dr. Lehrfield and his team also work with every patient to help determine the best at-home oral hygiene routine for their optimal oral health!
Dental Cleanings (Prophylaxis)
Even those with the most diligent brushing and flossing routines can find it challenging to reach every nook and cranny between the teeth and gums. For this reason, we emphasize the importance of routine dental cleanings and encourage our patients to visit us at least twice a year for preventive appointments. Since plaque harbors the bacteria responsible for cavities and gum disease, its removal by a dental professional is essential for maintaining proper oral health.
That's why we encourage patients to come in twice a year for professional dental cleanings. This allows our dental team to remove any accumulated plaque, tartar, and food debris from between the teeth and gums.
Routine dental cleanings are known to provide the following benefits:
- Cavity prevention
- Enhanced periodontal health
- Aid in reversing gingivitis and restoring gum health
- Support for your overall health and well-being
- Keeping your smile feeling fresh and clean
Because a routine dental cleaning involves the superficial areas around the neck of the tooth and stays above or just slightly below the gum line, it's typically a pain-free and simple procedure. For patients with sensitive teeth and other concerns that may cause discomfort during a cleaning, topical numbing gels or local anesthesia may be used.
At the Smile Design Center, we enhance our preventive care appointments with the use of an ultrasonic scaler. An ultrasonic scaler uses a steady stream of water coupled with varying vibration frequencies to scrape harmful hard deposits off the surface of the teeth.
Once the areas around the teeth and gums have been cleaned, our hygienist will then polish your teeth to remove superficial stains. In addition to going home with a smile that feels fresh and clean, we'll also provide you with instructions on the best methods of brushing and flossing and useful dietary guidance to support optimal oral health.
Bruxism Mouth Guards
Do you suffer from bruxism, the nighttime tooth grinding often associated with TMJ disorder? Dr. Lehrfield and his team have a solution! Our custom-fitted bruxism mouth guards are specially designed to prevent tooth grinding at night, to preserve your healthy teeth, proper bite alignment, and keep TMJ-related headaches at bay!
Athletic Mouth Guards
Every year millions of cases of dental and facial injuries occur as the result of sport-related trauma. One way to significantly reduce the risk of damage to your teeth, cheeks, lips, tongue, face, or jaw as the result of a sports-related injury is to wear a custom-fitted mouthguard. At Smile Design Center, we offer athletic mouthguards as a removable appliance made of a sturdy plastic that sits comfortably over the teeth.
Typically, mouthguards are designed to cover just the top teeth, but may also be fabricated to include the lower teeth depending on your sport and unique needs. Individuals who wear braces or have some types of dental work may require a specific type of mouthguard that provides more coverage.
To safeguard your smile from injury and concussions, our dental team will help you to design and customize a comfortable mouthguard that fits you best!
Oral Cancer Screenings
As part of your complete preventive exam, your dentist will perform a gentle oral cancer screening. Your screening will include a review of your medical and dental histories. Then, our dentist will carefully check in and around the oral cavity, as well as the head and neck area, for any signs or symptoms that may indicate the presence of an oral health concern.
Trusted, Dedicated Prevention for Your Oral Health
Dental cleanings play an essential role in preventive care. At The Smile Design Center of Dr. Yehuda Lehrfield, we're proud to help patients establish a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Call us today to schedule your next preventive dental exam!
