The best way to keep patients’ smiles whole and healthy for a lifetime is to partner with patients to maintain oral health by caring for their smiles at home, and by visiting our office twice a year for dental checkups and cleanings. Preventing advanced tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental damage or decay is the best way to keep smiles whole and healthy not to mention saving patients time, money, and preventing pain that accompanies more advanced dental care. Contact our dental team to find out more or schedule a checkup today.
To build a solid foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles, we recommend patients start by visiting the Ardmore dental practice of Robert V. Hughes, DDS two times each year for preventive checkups and professional, thorough teeth cleanings. During these six month checkups, we capture diagnostic x-ray images, examine smiles screening for warning signs of common oral health concerns, and sit down face to face with patients to develop a personalized treatment plan for ongoing care.
Sealants offer one of the easiest ways to protect teeth from decay causing plaque and tartar buildup. Typically recommended for younger patients, dental sealants are also beneficial for adult patients who are more prone to decay. Sealants are painted over the surfaces of teeth in liquid form where they fill in even the smallest crevices and pits, and they are hardened into position sealing out decay-causing bacteria and plaque. With proper care, this simple preventive treatment will protect teeth for years.
Unconscious teeth grinding and clenching, bruxism, may seem like a relatively harmless bad habit, but without protection form the potentially damaging effects, patients may experience dental wear, chips, and cracks. We offer custom crafted, comfortable nightguards to place a barrier between teeth protecting them from possible damage. Additionally, these custom nightguards reduce the amount of grinding that occurs by placing the jaw in its most comfortable position decreasing the amount of unconscious jaw movement.
Oral cancer claims one life every hour on average in the US, more than 50% of patients diagnosed each year do not live more than five years beyond diagnosis, and contrary to popular belief, this disease does not just affect tobacco users. In fact, more than 25% of those diagnosed do not engage in any of the high risk behaviors associated with oral cancer. That’s why regular screenings from our skilled dentist and team are so important.
Nearly 75% of our patients have some form of gum disease. Considering that this condition not only causes permanent tooth loss, but has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases, this percentage is higher than we would like it to be. Thankfully, we have a variety of services to help you treat and prevent gum disease. Periodontal therapy begins with prevention. During six month checkups, we complete periodontal charting. This is a measurement of the attachment level of gums to teeth. Increased depth in these pockets is one of the earliest indicators of gum disease, and when diagnosed in this stage, we are often able to prevent damage before it begins. If patients’ gum disease progresses beyond these early stages, we may recommend scaling and root planing using our Biolase soft tissue laser. Scaling is the careful removal of damaged tissue, plaque, and tartar around the gums, and root planing smooths the rough surfaces of tooth roots to prevent additional soft tissue irritation.
Do you snore loudly, all night, every night? Wake feeling exhausted no matter how much sleep you get? Find it difficult to concentrate during the day? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. This common sleep disorder has a number of adverse effects on patient health, and many people find the traditional treatment, CPAP, to be too invasive to provide effective relief. That’s where oral appliance therapy from our team comes in. These comfortable, portable mouthguards keep the jaw shifted forward and airway open and unobstructed, so patients can breathe deeply and sleep soundly.