Dental Cleanings Las Vegas

Las Vegas dental cleanings are the cornerstone of maintaining your smile. You can brush and floss your teeth every day, but that’s not enough to ensure you have a beautiful smile for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, many people avoid regular dental cleanings because of fear or anxiety and this can lead to bigger problems down the line. Most people don’t know if they have a cavity or have developed gum disease until it’s far too late to treat the problem easily. At Better Smiles Dental in Las Vegas, Dr. Buda- Gordon and her staff understand this anxiety and strive to provide a calm and relaxed environment for all patients.

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Why Are Professional Dental Cleanings Important?

Brushing and flossing are important, but they are not enough to maintain good oral health. Every time you eat, plaque forms on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky, yellowish substance made up bacteria. You remove some plaque when you brush and floss, but some of it sticks around no matter how thorough you are. Additionally, saliva, which helps to break down food when you chew and also helps strengthen your teeth, can cause a buildup of calcium on the outside of your teeth. All of this build-up needs to be removed in order to prevent tartar, decay and gum disease.

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What To Expect At A Dental Cleaning

Knowing what to expect from your visit can ease some of the anxiety of a dental cleaning. The actual process of a professional cleaning is called “prophylaxis” or may be referred to as “scaling and polishing.” This is performed by a dental hygienist and is far less intimidating than it sounds. The hygienist uses special equipment to remove the buildup of calcium, plaque, and tartar (scaling) and then polishes the teeth to a smooth surface.

 

The first instrument you’re likely to see during your cleaning is a tool that uses ultrasonic vibration to remove tartar from the surface of the tooth. It is an electric tool, so it does make a noise, which can sometimes make patients anxious. The noise of the tool often seems louder than it really is because it’s held so close to your face, but if you ask your hygienist to show you how the tool works, you can ease some of your fears. The surface of the tool is very soft, much like your electric toothbrush at home, and should not cause any pain.

The second step in the cleaning involves removing smaller deposits of tartar with small, hand-held tools that are curved to match the shape of a tooth. The hygienist will gently scrape off any remaining tartar deposits from the teeth.

Finally, the teeth are polished with a tool that closely resembles an electronic toothbrush. It has a round head that moves in a circular motion. The hygienist will scoop a bit of special toothpaste into the instrument and polish the teeth to a smooth finish.

Some patients elect to have a fluoride treatment after their dental cleaning. Fluoride comes in lots of different flavors, and patients can choose which they like best. A gel or foam is placed into a small dental tray which is held in the mouth for 30 seconds. Fluoride treatments are important to help strengthen teeth, especially those that have been covered in tartar for a while.

Once the hygienist is done with the cleaning, the dentist will come in and examine your teeth and let you know if you have any cavities, gingivitis (gum disease) or if any follow-up treatments are necessary.

 

Do Dental Cleanings Hurt?

Professional dental cleanings are not designed to cause pain or discomfort. If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while, your cleaning may take a little longer than a typical visit, but it shouldn’t be painful. Instruments are designed for comfort as well as function, and hygienists are taught to use gentle but effective motions. If you have pain before you arrive at the dentist, let the hygienist know as soon as you sit in the chair. If you are nervous, ask your dental hygienist to walk you through each step of the cleaning. Ask questions along the way, and if you do experience discomfort, or even if you’re just a little anxious, say something right away.

Some patients will experience bleeding gums during their visit, especially if they have not been to the dentist in many years or if they do not practice good brushing and flossing habits at home. The good news is that the better you care for your teeth at home, the easier your next visit will be. 

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Gum Disease Treatment Las Vegas

Las Vegas gum disease treatment, also known as periodontal disease treatment, is a painless and common problem affecting many people - even people who think they practice good oral hygiene. There are several stages of gum disease, from mild to severe; but if gum disease is left untreated it can lead to infection and tooth loss. Better Smiles dental in Las Vegas knows that gum disease is common, but that every patient is unique. Dr. Buda-Gordon and her team work with each patient one-on-one to help them understand how to treat and prevent gum disease.

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Types Of Gum Disease

The first and most mild form of gum disease is called gingivitis. When you do not brush your teeth often enough, or you brush but do not floss, plaque builds up along the tooth near the gum line. Plaque is a sticky buildup of bacteria, and when it is not removed from teeth, it causes a mild infection. Signs of gingivitis are gums that bleed when brushed, are red rather than pink, and appear swollen. Most people will develop mild gingivitis at some point in their lives, but it can be easily treated with the help of your dentist. If left untreated, however; the problem can get much worse.

As gingivitis worsens it becomes known as periodontitis. The difference between gingivitis and periodontitis is that the gums actually begin to separate from the teeth. The spaces caused by this separation become a haven for food and bacteria. The body sees this debris as an infection and works to fight the invasion. This battle at the gum line actually makes the problem worse. The bacteria and infection-fighting enzymes begin to break down the teeth, gum tissue and even the bone surrounding the teeth. This gives the bacteria, even more, room to spread, and the cycle worsens. As the spaces continue to grow, teeth are no longer held in place and they become loose. Periodontitis is the leading cause of preventable tooth loss in adults.

 

Other Causes Of Gum Disease

Other factors that can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis are:

• Diabetes – Patients with diabetes have trouble fighting off infection making them prone to gum disease.

• Medications – Certain medications can create “dry mouth” which means the patient doesn’t produce enough saliva to break down food and bacteria, leaving them susceptible to gingivitis.

• Hormones – Puberty, menstruation, and menopause cause hormonal changes in the body which can affect its ability to fight off infection, sometimes leading to gum disease.

• Smoking – Everyone knows smoking is bad for the lungs, but it’s also very bad for the gums. The chemicals are taken into the body from smoking leave gums unable to repair themselves.

• Immune Diseases and Deficiencies – Diseases that affect the immune system leave the gums vulnerable to infection.

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Gum Disease Treatment Options

The good news is that with regular dental checkups, gum disease is easily treated, especially in the early stages. If gingivitis has progressed into periodontitis, Dr. Dr. Buda-Gordon will design an individual treatment plan based on the stage and severity of the problem. The goal of treatment is to stop the progression of the disease and help the gums reattach and grow in a healthy manner.

Scaling and planning is a common, nonsurgical way to treat gum disease that has progressed beyond gingivitis. During this procedure, the gums and teeth are numbed and the doctor will deep clean below the gum line (scaling) and smooth any rough tooth surfaces to keep bacteria out (planning).

More severe cases of gum disease will require surgical procedures depending on the location and severity of the infection. Tissue grafts may be required in cases where gums have receded, bone grafts may be required if bone has been lost, or pocket reduction surgery may be required to “fit” the gums around loose teeth.

Dr. Buda-Gordon works with each patient individually to determine the best course of treatment for all forms of gum disease.

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Caring For Your Gums

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, it is imperative that you improve your daily dental hygiene immediately. Gingivitis is preventable in most cases, and regular brushing, flossing and checkups are usually all that are needed to keep bacteria at bay. If you need to have surgical treatment to repair your gums, Dr. Buda-Gordon will provide a course of antibiotic treatment to keep new infections from forming while you heal. Prolonged swelling, bleeding or pain should be reported to the office immediately. Once you are healed, you may be required to come into the office for cleanings more than twice a year in order to maintain your gum health.