We strive to provide you with fantastic preventive services such as:

Dental Prophylaxis ( Preventive Professional dental cleaning & Polishing)- This is
accomplished for our patients who have generally no Periodontal(gum/Bone)
disease or have been in maintenance mode after active treatment for Periodontal
disease. It is procedure that is usually done every 6 months.  It involves removal of
plaque(bacteria/food), heavy  tartar(hardened plaque) & stains above the gum level.  
For your comfort and a thorough removal of these disease causing germs and
unsightly stains we use:
  1. Ultrasonic scalers= instruments that use gentle vibration and a stream of
    water to loosen, remove and irrigate the teeth and gum tissue.
  2. ProphyJet= "Air Polishing", instrument that uses a puff of air and water mixed
    with polishing crystals to remove the stains and bacteria. Very effective for
    Coffee drinkers and smoker
  3. Prophy Angles=  Latex-Free polishing cups to polish the surface of the teeth.

Scaling and Root Planing (SC/RP) This procedure is performed as a first line of
defense and treatment for patients who have Periodontal disease (Bone and Gum
disease). The need for this procedure is solely dependent on the diagnosis reached .  

Periodontal disease 101:
  • Peri (meaning Perimeter/surrounding)+ Odont (meaning tooth)= The disease affecting
    the Perimeter/surroundings of the teeth, simply....the gums and the bone!
  • It is caused by Bacteria in the mouth. Billions of them!
  • They eat the same foods that we eat, or are unable to (sometimes forget to) clean off
    our teeth and gums. These food particle ROT within hours and bacteria find and eat
    them. The more ROTTEN, the more they like it!
  • The causative factors are bacteria and their "nasty" waste-products cause an infection
    in the gums and bone. Our body and immune system tries to fight off the infection but
    in this process the bone and gum tissues are resorbed (eaten away--melting away).
    Generally there are no symptoms (that's why it is a SILENT DISEASE) until the disease
    becomes more advanced (i.e. Abscesses, loosened teeth.)
  • The Nasty waste= ACID.  It irritates the gums and the bone, that is why they bleed and
    a foul smell starts since the acid turns the gums into a bloody/pus-filled mess.
  • Once supportive structures(bone and attached gum tissues) are lost due to this silent
    disease, unfortunately, they do not regrow.
  • These bacteria soon find themselves into the blood stream through red, bleeding
    gums and lodge within our arteries and even heart.  Based on research from ADA and
    American Heart Association these Bacteria and their Waste cause Inflammation that is
    a direct contributing factor to heart disease and strokes, certain types of cancers and
    even premature birth and low birth weight babies (if found in pregnant patients).
  • The only way to prevent further loss is maintenance of the remaining structures.  And
    this is accomplished first with Scaling and Root Planing:

  1. The procedure involves removal of the offending bacteria below the gums line
    and on the root surfaces of the teeth.
  2.  For patient comfort use of topical and Locally administered anesthetics are
    recommended.  Ultrasonic Scalers as well as hand instruments are used to
    thoroughly remove the bacteria and smooth the surface of the teeth to prevent
    further attachment of the bacteria.

    After scaling and root planing maintenance every 3 months is a MUST mainly because
    the nature of this disease is cyclical and it can return without warning or even
    symptoms.  So, compliance and proper education are instrumental in success.
    Generally patients are seen 3 months after SC/RP for a procedure called Periodontal
    maintenance, then 3 months later for a Dental prophylaxis and again 3 months
    following for Periodontal maintenance, and so on and so forth alternating between
    the two procedures.  It is the only proven way, to date, to provide an effective way to
    manage Periodontal disease.

    In some cases, this treatment may not affect localized areas of advanced disease at
    which point further treatment with a specialist Periodontist may be necessary.

Click Here to see a presentation courtesy of ADA.


Periodontal Maintenance A procedure performed for patients with Periodontal
disease or a history of Periodontal disease after they have been treated with scaling
and root planing.  It involves:

  1. A thorough re-examination of the Periodontal structures(bone/ gums) using probing
    numbers and comparing them to pre treatment numbers and evaluating improvement.
  2. Scaling (with Ultrasonic Scalers &/or hand instruments) to remove any new bacterial
    build-up

    Usually it is done 3 months after SC/RP and followed by Dental Prophylaxis 3 months
    later; alternating every 3 months thereafter.

Topical Fluoride application  
A Brief note about Fluoride:

  • It makes the tooth structure stronger, so teeth are more resistant to ACID attacks from the bacteria.Acid is formed when the bacteria in plaque break down the sugars and
    carbohydrates from the foods left on our teeth. Repeated acid attacks eat away at  the
    teeh, which simply causes cavities=creates HOLES in the teeth.  This is especially
    important in case of patients with "fillings", crowns, Root canals, bondings and even
    ones with Recession since:
  1. Altered tooth structure is generally weaker and acid can attack it more aggressively.
  2. Exposed Root surfaces are naturally 30% softer than untouched enamel and the acid
    will dissolve away the softer areas more quickly, also the root surfaces are much closer
    to the Pulp(the "Nerve") of the teeth.

    Fluoride also acts to repair, or remineralize(reharden), areas in which acid attacks
    have already begun. The remineralization effect of fluoride is important because it
    reverses the early decay process as well as creating a tooth surface that is more
    resistant to decay.

    Professionally-applied fluorides are in the form of a gel, foam or rinse, and are applied
    by a dentist or dental hygienist during dental visits. These fluorides are more
    concentrated (10 times stronger than normal toothpaste)than the self-applied
    fluorides, and therefore are not needed as frequently(usually once a year). It is
    recommended for children and adults as long as there is a justifiable need!

Sealants
A Brief Note about Sealants:
    Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth
    surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions
Preventive Services
© 2004 Naperville Family Dental Care