Cleaning & Prevention
Exams, X-Rays, Cleaning & Sealants
First-Time Patient?
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Find Your “Dental Home”
Finding a trusted dental provider will help you and your family familiarize and become comfortable with coming in for regular dental visits. At Guthrie Family Dentistry, we are a team of dental professionals who are dedicated to providing a safe dental home for our patients, where they can receive gentle, comprehensive and expert care. We are committed to advancing the health of our patients through education and preventative care. We strive to work alongside our families to address dental issues with the patient’s best interests in mind.
Home Care Tips
- Healthy habits. Brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing daily are essential for everyone, no matter how unique your mouth is. It’s the best way to fight tooth decay and gum disease.
- Build a relationship. Continuity of care is an important part of any health plan and dental health is no exception. When your dentist sees you regularly, he or she is in a good position to catch oral problems early. For instance, catching gum disease when it’s still reversible, or cavities when they are small and are more easily treated.
- Maintain. Keeping your mouth healthy is an essential piece of your overall health. It’s important to keep your dentist informed of any changes in your overall health as well.
- Talk about it! Only your dentist can determine what the best treatment plan is for you. Have questions about your oral health or certain dental procedures? Start a conversation. Ask your dentist to explain step-by-step. Dentists love having satisfied, healthy patients.
Brushing & Flossing
It’s vital that all children and adults engage in daily brushing and flossing, but to take your oral hygiene to the next level, follow a handful of particular steps to good dental health. These include:
- Using products that contain fluoride.
- Limiting snacks that are high in sugar.
- Eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables.
- Avoiding tobacco in any form.
- Using a mouthwash to help control plaque bacteria and to keep your breath fresh.
Exams & Cleanings
A Full Dental Examination – your dentist will perform a thorough examination of your teeth, gums and mouth, looking for signs of disease or other problems.
A Thorough Cleaning – a dental hygienist or dentist will scrape along and below the gum line to remove built-up plaque and tartar that can cause gum disease, cavities, bad breath and other problems. Then he or she will polish and floss your teeth.
Dental X-Rays
Your dentist takes a full set of dental X-rays early into the doctor-patient relationship. This helps to examine and record your mouth’s hidden areas for issues that need comparing against changes that occur between appointments. Most adult patients have bitewing X-rays every year and a full mouth series every four to five years. Those with a higher risk for cavities or other dental problems may need them every six to 18 months.
Sealants
Sealants protect against cavities that can form in the natural tiny holes and cracks on the outside of teeth. Kids from about ages 6 to 12 benefit from having sealants painted and hardened onto the chewing surfaces of their back teeth, or molars. Adults can get sealants as well to protect teeth that don’t have fillings. Dentists or dental hygienists put sealants on in an office visit and it’s painless.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride helps make teeth strong and prevents decay. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association (ADA), and the CDC all agree that kids should use fluoride toothpaste for brushing, taking care not to swallow it. Dentists provide professional fluoride treatments in the form of a highly concentrated rinse, foam, gel, or varnish. The treatment may be applied with a swab, brush, tray, or mouthwash and only takes a few minutes to apply.
Insurance and Payment Options
Navigating through the ins and outs of dental insurance can be both inconvenient and time consuming. We work with both in-network and out-of-network insurance providers. We are currently in-network with these providers. Don’t see your insurance listed? Don’t worry! A member of our team will be happy to go over your specific coverage with you. We also accept the following payment methods: Cash, Checks, Credit and Debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and Discover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you are 8 or 80, your oral health is important. Did you know that 100 million Americans fail to see a dentist each year, even though regular dental examinations and good oral hygiene can prevent most dental disease? Here are some frequently asked questions about going to the dentist.
Why do regular dental visits matter?
- Regular dental visits are important because they can help spot dental health problems early on when treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable. They also help prevent many problems from developing in the first place. Visiting your dentist regularly is also important because some diseases or medical conditions have symptoms that can appear in the mouth.
What are some signs I should see a dentist?
- Your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold
- Your gums are puffy and/or they bleed when you brush or floss
- You have fillings, crowns, dental implants, dentures etc.
- You don’t like the way your smile or teeth look
- You have persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
- You are pregnant
- You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck
- You have difficulty chewing or swallowing
- You have a family history of gum disease or tooth decay
- You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders or are HIV positive
- Your mouth is often dry
- You smoke or use other tobacco products
- You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy
- Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up; you have an uneven bite
- You have a spot or sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away
How often should I go to the dentist?
- There is no one-size-fits-all dental treatment. Some people need to visit the dentist once or twice a year; others may need more frequent visits. You are a unique individual, with a unique smile and unique needs when it comes to keeping your smile healthy.
At What Age Should My Child First See a Dentist?
- Studies show children can develop their first cavities by two years old, so the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends booking the first visit once their first tooth erupts – or, at the latest, their first birthday. This helps your dentist catch potential problems that can affect the child’s overall health and well-being as more teeth erupt over time.
How Can I Improve the Whiteness of My Teeth?
- A beautiful smile showing clean, white teeth gives a tremendous boost to your confidence. Most people experience some discoloration of teeth over the years, either from surface or extrinsic stains or internal ones. Treat stains caused by coffee, wine, tobacco and pigmented foods with at-home whitening or have a professional, in-office whitening done regularly. For intrinsic discoloration, consider composite bonding or the application of veneers to the affected teeth, which provides a more permanent solution.
Do I really need to floss?
- There’s no getting around the need to get around your teeth daily with dental floss. It clears food and plaque from between teeth and under the gumline. If you don’t, plaque hardens into tartar, which forms wedges and widens the space between teeth and gums, causing pockets. Over time, gums pull away and teeth loosen.
Are you accepting new patients?
- We are always accepting patients that want the best for themselves or are interested in complete dentistry in order to avoid dental emergencies.
Do you see emergencies?
- We have an emergency, after-hours phone for our patients. Patients of record are seen as necessary for their emergency needs.
