Keep Your Mouth Healthy With Preventive Dentistry
Prevention is the key to healthy teeth and gums. A proper brushing and flossing routine is critical, but regular dental appointments and professional preventive care should also be a part of your oral hygiene regimen.
By visiting Dr. Skutak every six months in Rothschild, you can prevent common dental issues like tooth decay, infections, and periodontal (gum) disease. In the long run, these appointments will save time and money by helping you avoid the need for restorative treatment, and it will ensure that your mouth is strong and healthy.
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Oral Exams & Teeth Cleanings
Oral exams and teeth cleanings are at the heart of all preventive care at . During routine appointments, one of our hygienists will clean, buff, and polish your teeth, and remove plaque and tartar from your mouth. We will thoroughly examine your teeth for signs of decay, and inspect your gums and your mouth for any other issues. Dr. Skutak will also check for signs of oral cancer, and may take x-rays, if necessary. The entire process usually takes less than an hour, and we work with all major insurers to keep quality dental care convenient and affordable.
Repair Minor Decay
Fluoride Treatments
If Dr. Skutak finds that you have a “soft spot” in one of your teeth, fluoride treatments can help restore your smile. During this treatment, a fluoride-rich solution is applied to your teeth and left in place for several minutes, then rinsed away. Fluoride encourages the remineralization and strengthening of tooth enamel, and can even reverse tooth decay if it is applied before a cavity fully develops.
Protect Against Cavities
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are another way to protect against cavities. Sealants consist of a liquid resin that is applied to your rear molars after they have been cleaned and disinfected. This resin quickly hardens into a barrier, which prevents oral bacteria, acid, and food debris from directly contacting your teeth. Essentially, this prevents the formation of cavities by shielding your teeth from harmful substances. Sealants can last up to 10 years with proper care.
Prevent And Reverse Gum Disease
Deep Cleaning
If you have gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, Dr. Skutak may recommend a deep cleaning, which is also called “scaling and root planing.” She will use special dental tools to remove plaque and tartar from between your gums and teeth and reshape your tooth roots to eliminate “pockets” of bacteria. This, combined with proper oral hygiene, is usually enough to reverse minor cases of gingivitis.
protect your smile
Contact Skutak Dental Today
Whether you’re in Rothschild, Schofield, Weston, or Wausau, Dr. Skutak is here to help you get the preventive care you need. To schedule a consultation, give us a call at (715) 355-4433. In the neighborhood? Feel free to stop by our office at 700 Eagle Nest Boulevard, Suite E, Rothschild, WI 54474.
How Should I
Properly Brush My Teeth?
To brush your teeth properly, you’ll first want to select the right toothbrush. You can use any toothbrush, manual or electric, with any type of head size or shape that you prefer as long as the bristles are soft.
Avoid using hard bristle toothbrushes, as they are too abrasive and wear down your enamel. Next, focus on technique. You should be holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and brushing in gentle circular motions with fluoride toothpaste.
Brush twice a day for 2 to 3 minutes, brushing all of the surfaces of your teeth and the top of your tongue. It’s advisable to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or after you have gotten sick.
While properly and regularly brushing is important, you need to make sure you’re still flossing at least once a day. Failing to floss will cause plaque buildup between the teeth and leads to interproximal cavities, no matter how well you brush.
Is Preventative Care
Covered By Dental Insurance?
Yes, preventative dental care is widely covered by dental insurance at 80 to 100% of the cost. This includes dental cleanings, oral exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and small fillings. You will need to contact your insurance provider to check exactly what they cover and what requirements you need to meet.
However, preventative treatments are the most widely covered treatment at the highest coverage rate because they prevent worsening oral health problems that require more invasive, expensive, and time-consuming treatment. If you don’t have dental insurance, we accept third-party financing through CareCredit to help you afford your treatment.
Why Are Dental Visits
So Important?
Prevent Oral Health Problems - Regular dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar buildup that causes tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. By preventing the conditions that lead to these oral health problems, you ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy and in good condition. You won’t develop receded or inflamed gums and cavities if you practice good oral hygiene and regularly remove bacteria from the mouth.
Early Detection - At your routine checkups, we will examine your mouth and take routine x-rays to look for signs of cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. If we notice signs of abnormal lesions, we can take a biopsy and send it for lab testing to check for cancer cells.
Gum disease can be detected by probing your gum pockets, and we can detect infected dental pulp on x-rays. These exams help us catch oral health problems early on which is crucial when they are only reversible in the early stages.
Save Money On Treatment - By preventing decay and gum disease from developing in the first place, you won’t require costly, invasive, and lengthy restorative treatment such as root canals, dental crowns, and restorations. This saves you time and money and maintains your oral health by preserving your natural healthy tooth structure.
Fresher Breath - Plaque buildup in the mouth can lead to a foul taste and odor in the mouth because of bacteria that produce sulfur compounds which are released at the back of the tongue and throat. Pus from an infection can also cause a foul smell. By cleaning your teeth, we remove bacteria and prevent infection so your breath smells fresh.
Whiter Smile - Cleanings remove surface stains that build up from tobacco use, foods, and drinks, and from the accumulation of plaque, which is yellow in color. By scaling and polishing your teeth, they will appear slightly whiter and less discolored.
