Maintaining proper oral hygiene is the most important aspect in preventive dentistry. One can keep oral diseases and infections at bay by brushing and flossing regularly to get rid of the microbes from the mouth.

Following a healthy diet also plays a major role in preventive dentistry. Eating a lot of sticky or sugary foods can get the food stuck between the teeth or leave a residue on them. This gives the bacteria something to feed on, promoting their growth and ultimately leading to cavities.

Some of the advanced oral examinations determine the onset of an oral disease even before they become apparent. Regular visits to a dentist office is important for your dentist to check for any signs of oral infections. But, as mentioned before, preventive dentistry starts at home with regular and thorough teeth cleaning.

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Oral Cancer Screening

The inner lining of the mouth surprisingly covers a large surface area. One should pay close attention to the subtle changes that occur to the tissues of the mouth, as they could be initial signs of dangerous oral diseases.

Some of the common signs of oral cancer are lumps, sores, redness, bleeding, lesions, warts, white patches, etc. However, in some cases, there wouldn’t be any visible signs of the onset of the disease, but the cancer could be spreading rapidly within. Underneath cellular changes are not easily detectable until they have advanced to a more serious critical stage.

According to American Cancer Society, it is estimated that about 7,000 deaths occur due to oral cancer out of 30,000 cases diagnosed annually. As soon as you notice any unusual changes in your mouth tissue, it may be helpful to do a biopsy and microscopic analysis from a qualified lab.

Dr. Tanega utilizes her strong background in general dentistry to deduce if the abnormalities should be removed or simply monitored.

Teeth Cleaning

Improper brushing and flossing techniques could leave a lot of microbes on the teeth and gums. When the bacteria accumulate on the teeth for a long span of time, they form a dark and sticky matter called plaque. When the bacteria accumulate on the teeth for a long span of time, they form a dark and sticky matter called plaque, which upon calcification turns into tartar. Tartar is hard to remove and is very bad for oral health as it releases acids which are capable of eroding the enamel. This is how cavities are formed.

In certain case, despite regular cleaning, microbes still get left behind, especially between adjacent teeth and on the grooves of the posterior teeth. This requires professional oral cleaning or dental prophylaxis at regular intervals. It involves getting rid of the stains, plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth. In case of any extrinsic stains, dental polishing would be required to restore the teeth to their natural shade.

At Tanega Dental, we remove the deposits from your tooth surface using a paste that gently buffs away stains and microscopic plaque, leaving your teeth smooth and shiny for a longer period of time.

Home Care

With just a few minutes a day dedicated towards keeping your teeth and gums clean, you can maintain your dental health and avoid complicated issues later.

It is said that your overall physical health is connected to your oral health. Just as a personal trainer would guide you through your workout sessions at gym, our personal hygienist would help you put in adequate efforts to keep your teeth and gums healthy. We would suggest you a customised oral cleaning plan depending on your age, daily activities, food habits, oral sensitivity, etc.

Periodontal Therapy

Periodontitis is one of the major diseases affecting the gums. It is also the key reasons for tooth loss in adults. About 30% of the population experiences some form of gum disease. This disease starts off as a mild infection of the gums (Gingivitis) and can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Such diseases can surely be controlled and avoided, provided a patient maintains a superior oral health and avoids bad dental habits.

Causes

  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Heredity
  • Poor diet
  • Diabetes and other medical conditions
  • Chewing tobacco / smoking
  • Hormonal changes
  • Ill effects of certain medication

Diagnosis and Treatment

Dr. Tanega would start with screening your teeth and gums to determine the extent of damage caused. If there is very less or no bone loss at all, a few sessions with our dentists and hygienists would bring the disease under control. But if there is considerable bone loss, then there is a need for proactive treatment to halt the spread of the disease, which might also include a need for a bone graft as well. After a thorough diagnosis, we can accurately identify the severity of the gum disease and propose a personalized treatment plan for you.

The first step of the treatment is to get rid of the plaque and tartar using scaling and root planing techniques. Our dentists suggest gentle numbing using local anesthesia before they start the procedure. Both the crown and root of a tooth are meticulously cleaned, keeping in mind that the gum pockets are the areas where maximum accumulation of microbes happen.

The surface of the tooth and the root are cleaned, smoothened out (to get rid of the surface imperfections), and polished. This reduces the accumulation of microbes on the teeth, which in turn reduces the extent of the disease. Further, if the gums are badly damaged, they may need a gum graft, which involves extracting healthy tissues from a different part of the mouth and grafting it to the damaged area.

Post the treatment, keeping the infection at bay is also dependent on the oral hygiene maintained by the patient. Thorough brushing and flossing usually do the trick, along with maintaining good food habits. Get in touch with us to get a personalised treatment plan and to know how best to counter your oral infections.

You may schedule a consultation with our Dentist in San Francisco CA  by calling us at (650) 794-0203 or reaching us through an online query. We’re always happy to help.