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Preventive Care

Fillings, root canals, crowns, and implants can be expensive and take time out of your busy schedule. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The team at Lone Oak Dental is all about prevention! We honestly hope that we can get all of our patients to a healthy state where they are not losing teeth and not needing cavities filled every six months.

At the core of prevention is education. Knowing what causes dental disease such as cavities and gum disease is the first step in preventing it. Almost all dental disease results from bacteria, sugar, and an unclean mouth.

Your First Visit

At your first visit with us, we will gather all the necessary information about your current dental and medical situation, such as a full mouth set of radiographs (x-rays), periodontal charting, oral cancer screening, previous dental history, and your previous medical history.

By gathering this information, we can determine dental diseases that you may be prone to. For instance, medications such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), which is used to treat high blood pressure and kidney disease, can make your mouth very dry. People who have a constantly dry mouth are more prone to cavities. By learning this about you, we can make recommendations about toothpastes you should use, how often you should be seen in our office, and if you should receive fluoride treatments.

Preventive Cleanings and Treatments

You should make appointments to have our hygienist perform a professional dental cleaning at least once every six months. If you quickly build tartar, have had extensive dental work, or have gum disease, we may recommend that you see us more often. Our hygienists are trained to remove tartar and plaque that builds up on your teeth, which can ultimately lead to cavities and gum disease.

Dental sealants are an excellent way to prevent cavities on back teeth like molars and premolars. Sealants are similar to tooth-colored fillings except no tooth structure needs to be removed to place them. This non-invasive treatment method fills the deep grooves, pits, and crevices in teeth that cannot be cleaned by brushing. As a result, food and bacteria cannot accumulate in these areas and cause decay. Sealants do not require local anesthesia or “shots.”

Professional fluoride treatments are an effective way to prevent cavities and treat sensitive teeth. The fluoride that we apply is at a higher concentration than that in toothpaste and mouth rinses. When fluoride this strength touches the tooth, it can actually make the tooth harder than it was before! The result is a tooth surface that is less likely to get a cavity.

Call Today to Arrange Your Next Appointment

Regular dental visits are an investment in your health and an inexpensive way to ensure that you will keep your smile for years to come. Preventive services like sealants and fluoride require little of your time and are painless!

Get started on preventing dental problems in the future. Schedule your visit at Lone Oak Dental today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between gingivitis and gum disease?

Gingivitis and gum disease both are characterized by red, tender and bleeding gums. While gingivitis is reversible and can be resolved, gum disease is permanent and must be managed throughout life. Gingivitis usually develops over a period of 2 to 3 weeks of not brushing and flossing well. If good oral hygiene habits are resumed, the red and inflamed tissue heals to its normal state. Gum disease which is also known as periodontal disease, occurs when bacteria have been sitting on the teeth and gums for an extended period of time. Our bodies do not like bacteria and try to fight off the mild infection. As a result, the gums and bone around the teeth pull back. If untreated, this can lead to loose teeth, bad breath and gum abscesses. Periodontal disease may be treated with root planing, antibiotics, and regenerative procedures.

Why do my wisdom teeth need to be removed if they do not hurt?

Since wisdom teeth (third molars) are the last teeth to erupt into the mouth, many do not completely come through the gum tissue. In addition, most of the population does not have enough room in their mouth for wisdom teeth. The age at which people get their wisdom teeth ranges from 17 to 25 years old. However, Dr. Jordan has seen erupted wisdom teeth in a 15 year old!

If the wisdom teeth never erupt through the gum tissue, they can potentially develop into a cyst or other harmful conditions such as an ameloblastoma, which is a tumor requiring radical treatment. Some impacted wisdom teeth may become infected or cause damage to the adjacent 12-year molar. Wisdom teeth that partially erupt through the gums and stay that way are extremely prone to infection and cavities and often cause gum disease on the adjacent teeth.

The third molars that do erupt into the mouth are difficult to brush and floss since they are the farthest teeth back in the mouth. As a result, cavities can develop rapidly, resulting in a toothache or infection. Infections near lower wisdom teeth can quickly become life threatening.

Removing wisdom teeth is usually done between the ages of 15 to 20 when the roots are not completely formed. Taking these teeth out at this age usually results in less pain, better healing, a faster recovery, and can prevent cavities and gum disease on the adjacent 12-year molars.

At what age should my children be seen by a dentist?

Our office agrees with the American Dental Association’s recommendation that all children should be seen by age one. This allows the child and family to establish a dental home for the child where he or she can be seen for routine dental care as they grow. If the first visits that a child has to the dentist are pleasant and positive, the child is much more likely to cooperate when dental fillings are needed and have less anxiety.

Visits during early childhood also help establish good dental hygiene and education regarding thumb sucking, crossbites, and diet. Significant problems such as crossbites, when caught early, can be quickly treated and reduce the amount of time needed for orthodontics.

A common problem seen in infants is “baby bottle decay.” Infants and toddlers can develop these cavities from drinking juice, soda, and sports drinks, especially if they are put to sleep with these drinks in their bottles. These sugary beverages sit on the child’s teeth and allow the cavities to grow quickly. Baby bottle decay usually involves the upper front teeth, but when advanced, involves almost all the teeth. When children visit Dr. Jordan, he is able to look for decay and review the child’s diet with parents.

What kind of toothbrush should I use?

A soft or extra soft manual toothbrush should be used to prevent damage to the teeth and gums. An excellent option is an electric toothbrush, especially if you have arthritis or problems with your hands.

All or almost all of my teeth are sensitive to cold and air, what can I do?

Cavities are the most common reason for sensitivity. If you are sure that you are cavity free because you have had a recent dental check-up and still have sensitivity, there is hope! The second most common reason for sensitive teeth is exposed dentin. Dentin is the middle layer of teeth and also covers the root surface of teeth. A simple solution that works for many people is switching to a toothpaste specially formulated for sensitivity such as Sensodyne or Crest Sensitivity. These toothpastes should be used twice per day and not rinsed off after use.

Preventing further exposure of dentin is crucial to controlling the pain. Have Dr. Jordan and his staff review brushing technique to ensure that you are not brushing too hard or incorrectly. Avoid acidic foods and drinks (lemons, limes, pineapple, sports drinks, etc) which further erode tooth structure. We also carry prescription strength toothpaste which is very helpful in treating sensitivity.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Bradley Jordan
Dentist and Owner

I grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota. My dental degree is from the University of Minnesota, where I graduated third in my class. After dental school, I had the privilege of completing an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency in San Antonio, Texas. This intense program gave me the training needed to confidently complete difficult procedures such as implants, cosmetics, full mouth reconstructions, and sedation dentistry. One of the greatest aspects of this program was that we treated U.S. Veterans and it allowed me to give back to those ...