PREVENTATIVE DENTAL PROCEDURES
At Ryan Maddox, DDS, Inc., we believe that preventative care is the best way to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile for years to come. Here are just a few of the many preventative dental procedures we perform in our Folsom office:
X-rays
X-rays allow Dr. Maddox to diagnose and circumvent problems such as tooth decay while gaining a better understanding of the positioning of your teeth and their roots.
Exams
Exams are essential for both preventing dental problems and treating conditions in their early stages. At Ryan Maddox, we perform thorough examinations for tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. Additionally, we check existing restorations, including fillings and crowns, to ensure they are in good working order.
Professional Dental Cleaning
Professional dental cleaning involves the removal of plaque and tartar and the polishing of the surfaces of teeth. Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film composed of bacteria, food debris, and saliva that form on teeth. The bacteria produce toxins that inflame the gums and lead to periodontal disease. A hardened form of plaque that has become attached to the teeth, calculus can form both above and below the gum line. Special dental instruments are required to remove calculus from teeth. After the plaque and calculus have been removed, our team will polish teeth to remove stains and enhance the appearance of your smile.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing are some of the most common treatments for periodontal disease. With scaling, Dr. Maddox removes calculus and plaque that attach to the surfaces of teeth. Root planing treats any remaining calculus and smoothes irregularities in the root surface to prevent future plaque buildup. Dr. Maddox will administer a local anesthetic to ensure you experience no pain during your scaling and planing procedure.
Brushing and Flossing Instruction
Brushing and flossing instruction. Along with providing in-office procedures, Ryan Maddox, DDS, Inc., helps instruct patients in correct brushing and flossing techniques. Choose a fluoride-based toothpaste to reduce bacteria and strengthen teeth by remineralizing surfaces. You should also select a brush with soft, end-rounded or polished bristles to avoid damaging gum tissue. The size, shape, and angle of the brush should allow you to reach every tooth. Because worn-out brushes cannot clean teeth properly, it’s important to replace your toothbrush every few months or whenever the bristles show signs of wear.
Ideal for spaces a toothbrush can’t reach, flossing removes food particles and plaque. A thin thread made of waxed nylon, dental floss can reach below the gum line to clean between teeth. For proper flossing, you should first remove a length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss around your middle fingers before guiding it gently between teeth. Then, unwrap the clean floss from around your fingers as you go. While it’s common for gums to bleed a little when you start flossing, patients should contact their dentists in the event that bleeding persists.
As a top rated dentist, Dr. Maddox has the skill and experience to handle even the most complex smile restoration.
