Preventive Care

 

At Blue Hill Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, our goal is to maintain your optimal oral health through regular dental cleanings, oral cancer screenings, and gum disease evaluations.

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Dental Cleanings

Our office is committed to ensuring regular and thorough dental cleanings for all of our patients.

Your hygienist will begin your cleaning by exploring the surfaces of your teeth to determine if you have cavities and will examine the quality of any existing fillings. She will then inspect your gums for periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Our hygienists are trained to detect, prevent, and treat gum disease.

Next, your hygienist will carefully clean your teeth with various tools to remove any hard mineral buildup (tartar) from your teeth. Then, your teeth will be flossed and polished. If your hygienist finds tooth decay or gum disease, they will talk with you about your brushing, flossing, and changes that will benefit you.

Oral Cancer Screenings

We’re committed to providing proactive oral cancer screenings for every patient so that we can diagnose and treat this severe condition as soon as possible. An early diagnosis and treatment will significantly increase a patient’s chances of full recovery.

Common risk factors for oral cancer include:

  • Tobacco use
  • Frequent, high quantity of alcohol consumption
  • Constant sunlight exposure
  • Habitual cheek or lip biting
  • Poorly fitting dentures

Common signs of oral cancer include:

  • Red or white spots or sores in the oral cavity
  • A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
  • A lump
  • Thickening or rough spots
  • Pain, tenderness, or numbness in the mouth or on the lips
  • Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue

If you notice any of these signs, please contact us immediately, so that we can help you fight and win the battle against oral cancer.

Low Radiation Digital X-Rays

X-rays are pictures of a patient’s teeth, mouth, and jaw. They are used to locate cavities and other oral health issues, like impacted wisdom teeth, that can’t be seen with a regular examination. X-ray technology is an essential element of proper oral diagnosis.

At Blue Hill Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we are proud to offer low radiation digital x-rays, an advanced technology that produces consistently safer, better results for our patients.

Mouth Guards/Night Guards

Close to 20% of adults suffer from the negative effects of grinding and clenching their teeth, often called bruxing. Bruxing, or tooth grinding, typically occurs at night when patients have no way of knowing they even do it. If left untreated, bruxism can cause broken, chipped, or cracked teeth, headaches, and TMJ/TMD. Night guards are a common treatment to reduce these symptoms and protect your teeth.

Common signs of bruxism/tooth grinding include:

  • Flat or chipped teeth
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Waking up with sore jaw muscles
  • Neck or facial pain

If you notice any of these signs, we welcome you to contact us to schedule an appointment. Dr. Aponte will perform a thorough evaluation to determine if bruxism is the root of what you’re experiencing. If it is, he will talk with you about your treatment options and work with you to decide which one may be best for you.

Athletic Mouth Guards

If you or your kids play sports, we can design and fit a custom mouthguard for you to protect against damage to your teeth and make it easier to breathe and speak during athletic activity.