Hopewell dentist | |

Dental Hygiene/Periodontal Health

Regular Hygiene Care

Here at Ellis Family Dentistry, we strongly believe that regular hygiene care is the key to maintaining dental health for life.  We recommend that all of our patients see us on at least a six month basis, and more if needed.   At your regular hygiene care appointment, we will perform a cleaning, exam, any needed x-rays, a fluoride treatment, an oral cancer screening,  and more. 

In addition to the meticulous cleaning, polishing, and examination of your teeth, we also take the time to help our patients develop proper oral hygiene habits at home. We will evaluate your hygiene techniques and make adjustments to your routine where needed.  Our doctors and hygienists will also make suggestions for preventative measures such as dental sealants to help prevent cavities or nightguards to protect against bruxism & TMJ disease.

If we feel that you are suffering from gingivitis or more severe gum disease, we may recommend root scaling or planing.  These measures can be instrumental in preventing bone loss and helping you to keep your natural teeth.

During a dental exam, the doctor will check your neck and oral tissues for lumps, red or white patches or recurring sore areas.

Screening for early changes in the oral tissue can help detect cancer at a stage when it can be more successfully treated.

Smoking, especially combined with heavy alcohol consumption (30 drinks a week or more), is the primary risk factor for oral cancer.  In fact, this combination is estimated to be the most likely trigger in about 75 percent of oral cancers diagnosed in this country. Other lifestyle and environmental factors also may increase your risk of developing this deadly disease.

Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure in which the hygienist removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line. Root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed with specially designed instruments. It is important to remove the plaque and tartar from the pockets because bacterial toxins  irritate the gums, and plaque and rough surfaces of tartar make it easier for bacteria to gain a foothold. This procedure is performed in each of the four quadrants of the mouth as needed.

Full Mouth Debridement

A procedure called a full mouth debridement is sometimes necessary when a patient has severe calculus buildup and gum inflammation that prevents the dentist from performing a comprehensive exam.  In this procedure, the hygienist removes large deposits of calculus buildup from the teeth, enabling the dentist to accurately diagnose any needed care.  A full mouth debridement is performed in one visit and  requires a follow up appointment for proper evaluation of the teeth and gum health.