A Deep Cleaning Could Protect Your Smile

It’s been a year or two … or longer … since you last visited the dentist. That’s OK. We aren’t judging anyone.

But we do want to help you now.

It’s possible (even likely) that you have some form of gum disease. This isn’t a personal criticism. It’s based on statistics.

According to the Centers for Disease Control nearly half of all adults over 30 in the United States have some form of periodontal disease.

This happens to be one of our specialties at Dental Implants and Periodontology of Arizona. If you live in or near Phoenix and you haven’t seen a dentist in a little while, please call us today to make an appointment.

Comfortable, Relaxed Care

We want all of our patients to feel comfortable whether you have been visiting us for years or this is your first trip to our office.

We understand that dental anxiety can make it difficult for some patients to make a dental appointment and to actually sit down in a dentist’s chair. We may be able to put you at ease with our sedation dentistry.

With oral conscious sedation, you will take a pill before your cleaning begins. Please note that you should make arrangements for someone else to drive you to and from your appointment if you do elect dental sedation.

Many patients have no memory of their treatment while they are under sedation. This may be exactly what you need to receive the dental care that you deserve.

For patients who would prefer to do without sedation, we make every effort to help you feel relaxed as well.

This starts with our comfort options. If your head is uncomfortable, we will gladly share one of our pillows with you. If you are chilly or you just want to feel cozier, we have blankets available as well.

We also know that the lights we use to examine your teeth may not be great from your vantage point. We can provide you with an eye shade to block out the light.

We want to mention two other things briefly.

We don’t want any of our patients to feel pain when they are in our office. If you do not undergo sedation, we will provide anesthetic for any procedure that could cause pain. And since we know some patients are bothered by needles, we do this in a couple steps.

First, we apply a topical anesthetic to numb your gums. Then, we administer the full anesthetic. This way you won’t even feel it an injection.

The other thing we wanted to mention is our longer appointment option. For patients who don’t want sedation, this can be a big help. If you know that you have more time, then you can feel comfortable taking a break if you need one during your procedure.

Deep Cleaning

One of our concerns for any patients who has missed a dental cleaning or two (or more) is the likelihood of plaque buildup below the gumline.

In many cases, we recommend a deep cleaning to remove any infection and to reduce the risk of future infections. Since we want to remove as much of the problem as we possibly can, we incorporate perioscopy into our treatment.

What is perioscopy? We’re glad you asked. This involves the use of a small camera to give us a closer view of your mouth.

This helps to better identify and target areas where plaque and tartar need to be removed. The camera also makes it easier to treat gum disease without surgery.

Practicing Prevention

Once we have removed the periodontal disease from your mouth, we want to encourage you to practice prevention.

This starts with a consistent daily oral hygiene routine. You should be brushing your teeth twice a day, being sure to scrub your teeth on all sides, and brushing for two minutes a time.

You also need to floss every day, according to the American Dental Association. That means cleaning the spaces between all your teeth and cleaning the space between your teeth and your gums.

Last, but not least, you should continue to visit Dental Implants and Periodontology of Arizona for regular cleanings and examinations.

Do It For Yourself, Do It For Your Smile

Many people do not know that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. When left untreated, this infection can damage the jawbones that hold your teeth in your mouth, attack the roots of your teeth, and cause your gums to recede or pull away from your teeth.

Keep your gums healthy. Keep your teeth in place. And keep your smile looking great.

Make an appointment at our dentist office by calling 602-842-6841 or by filling out our online form today.