Preventive Dentistry – Midland, TX
One-on-One Care That Caters to You
As a small dental office, we do everything we can to make communication a priority for patients. When the time comes for your routine exam and cleaning, we want to make sure that your overall health is given just as much time and dedication as your oral care. The more effectively you can maintain long-term oral health through regular checkups, the better able you’ll be able to protect your overall health as well. If you’re ready to schedule your very first appointment with Dr. Philipps, give her dental office a call for preventive dentistry iin Midland, TX!
Why Choose Laura Philipps, DMD for Preventive Dentistry?
- Prioritizes Overall Health as Well as Oral Health
- Provides Oral DNA Oral Cancer Screening
- Promises Personalized, One-on-One Attention for Patients
Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings
One of the most effective ways to ensure long-term oral health is by maintaining consistent brushing and flossing at home. However, professional exams and cleanings give our dental office a chance to confirm if your at-home care is sufficient and whether you need to make adjustments. In the event that we catch plaque, tartar, or decay, we’ll gently remove it and prescribe additional treatment where necessary to protect your teeth and gums from dental disease.
Learn More About Checkups and Cleanings
Oral DNA Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is diagnosed in at least 54,000 people every year, but dentists like Dr. Philipps are in a unique position to catch it sooner, thanks to an advanced Oral DNA screening process. By taking a swab of your saliva, we can confirm the presence of cancer cells in the mouth sooner. The earlier we catch the development of oral cancer, the more successful your future treatments to remove cancer will be.
Fluoride Treatment
Enamel, the protective outer layer of your teeth, is the hardest substance produced by the human body, but it’s not invincible! It can eventually become demineralized or worn-down, increasing the risk of tooth decay, disease, or physical damage.
Our dedicated team in Midland is happy to provide topical fluoride treatment to help strengthen your enamel and improve your dental health. Continue reading to learn more about this standard service and why it might be recommended during your routine appointment!
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that’s often found in soil and water sources. Ultra-high doses can potentially cause mottling of the enamel or weaken teeth and bones, but thankfully, most people aren’t exposed to enough of this ingredient to be concerned with potential side effects.
For instance, safe amounts of fluoride are often included in toothpaste to help strengthen enamel or added to public drinking water as a preventive measure to reduce a population’s risk of developing widespread dental decay. The amount included in topical dental applications is minimal and is therefore also considered perfectly safe for most people.
How Does Fluoride Treatment Work?
Our team can apply safe amounts of fluoride directly to your teeth as a gel or foam that’s often given a minty or fruity flavor to make it more palatable. This varnish includes enough of the mineral to help strengthen your enamel without causing potential complications. This can often be a simple and effective way to strengthen enamel before you develop decay, chips, cracks, breaks, or other issues.
It takes about 30 to 60 minutes for the active ingredients to take effect, so you may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for an hour or two to give the treatment enough time to work. Then, it’s typically safe to resume your usual activities and eating habits.
Who Benefits from Fluoride Treatment?
This is a standard preventive service that’s often offered to children during routine pediatric dental examinations, but it’s known to benefit patients of all ages, genders, and walks of life. We might recommend this service after a routine examination and cleaning to improve your dental health, especially if we find areas of enamel that are thinner or depleted of nutrients.
We might also suggest this for patients with different medical circumstances, such as those with diabetes or who are pregnant, that can increase the risk of cavities.
Nightguards for Bruxism
Many people don’t realize they have a teeth grinding or clenching problem until a dentist performs an examination of their mouth. When teeth have become eroded over time, even stellar at-home oral care cannot protect you from bruxism. The best way to combat this condition is to wear a preventive nightguard, which provides cushion from chronic grinding and clenching. It’s referred to as a nightguard because bruxism symptoms typically occur at night while you sleep, which is when you’ll need to wear the oral appliance.