Each time you visit Advanced Dental Artistry for your biannual check-up, your dental hygienist and Dr. Yost will complete hygiene therapy and an exam to observe and maintain your oral health. We offer a wide range of family dentistry services for adults and children of all ages.
The value of hygiene therapy cannot be overstated. The goal of this preventive care is to protect your smile from damage caused by tooth decay, such as cavities and other potentially harmful dental conditions.
How that is done is important to understand for patients and education is one of our specialties. We want patients to know what we are doing, why it is important, what we found, what the cause is, what options are to address it and why we might recommend a particular option over others for their specific situation. If we find nothing, all the better!
Hygiene therapy is a comprehensive oral health procedure that is about more than just teeth cleaning. ADA’s hygienists clean your teeth to treat and prevent periodontal disease by scaling and polishing teeth along with prophylactic and antimicrobial materials. They take dental x-rays and complete monitoring and screening procedures by maintaining these historical records. They are also trained to use ultrasonic scalers, drills and polishers to benefit the patient.
For most patients, we will:
- Clean your teeth by removing any plaque or tartar (also called dental calculus), which can lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease
- Floss and polish your teeth for a healthy, bright smile
- Examine your smile for signs of any damaging dental conditions or diseases
However, we do normally undertake a complete oral health exam to follow up on issues addressed during past hygiene therapy appointments or to check for any new issues.
Our teeth cleaning routine can include periodontal charting, periodontal debridement (scaling and root planing), prophylaxis (preventing disease) or periodontal maintenance procedures for patients. Our professionals coordinate amongst themselves and with patients to help prevent and control oral disease as part of an individualized treatment plan.
For example, people with a history of grinding their teeth and cannot stop would be recommended to try a night guard. Or, if a patient is a smoker, we would recommend they get regular cancer screenings.
X-rays, dental impressions, customized teeth whitening trays and intraoral radiographs are other procedures our hygienists in coordination with Dr. Yost can complete. Overall, ADA takes a preventative approach by thoroughly examining your teeth and gums to detect oral diseases and conditions early. This allows them to be treated or corrected with minimal treatment and discomfort.
Dr. Kenneth Yost may further examine your mouth using dental X-rays to determine if you need additional dental treatment. These quick and comfortable dental exams help us prevent cavities, maintain gum disease and discover other dental conditions before they become damaging. If you require more care and need more frequent visits, we are happy to provide confident, reliable dental assistance as we help ensure your dental journey ends with a clean and healthy smile.
