Dental Cleanings and Examinations

Dental Cleanings and Examinations for Children

Dr. Gaertner works with patients of various ages and knows how to help children feel comfortable while visiting the dentist. Families throughout Florida visit our experienced dentist’s office for their children to receive teeth cleaning.

You should take your young children for regular cleaning sessions and exams as this ensures their baby teeth are healthy until their adult teeth are ready to emerge. Many people are unaware of the gravity of keeping their infant’s teeth healthy. Just as adults are prone to cavities and gum disease, children too are prone to them. The contrast is that children may have trouble comprehending or managing the pain. For optimal dental health, it is suggested that families bring their children in for twice-yearly cleanings and exams. This helps keep plaque and bacteria at bay, decreasing the chances of cavities.

While cleaning children’s teeth, our staff will be sure to practice gentle dentistry. By building a rapport with our young patients, they will feel more relaxed during their dental appointments. Thus, visiting the dentist becomes fun instead of intimidating. We also recommend that parents take the time to read stories about going to the dentist and play games by teaching children how to examine their toy’s teeth.

These little steps can help children feel comfortable when getting their own teeth cleaned. By doing so twice a year, their baby teeth are more likely to stay in until they are supposed to fall out, and their adult teeth will also stay healthier. If you have questions about scheduling an appointment for your child call 305-274-6500.

Adults

We advise that adults in Kendall, FL get their teeth cleaned at least twice a year too. It doesn’t matter how old you are, oral health is significant. As individuals get older, the risk of a variety of conditions rises. The longer teeth have been around, the more the protective enamel starts to diminish, making it more likely to perhaps get a hole. The optimal way to battle this is by brushing and flossing all day augmented with regular visits to the dental practitioner’s office. We have bendable appointment times so that you can plan a date alongside your task or family schedule, making it easier than ever before to get your teeth whipped up into shape!

Patients with Sensitive Teeth

At Bliss Dental, we practice gentle dentistry and provide teeth cleanings for patients with sensitive teeth. Many adults avoid visiting the dentist due to concerns that their teeth will hurt or feel worse during the exam or subsequent cleaning. When working with the right dentist, you can feel comfortable regardless of how sensitive your teeth are. We offer a variety of sedation methods so that you do not have to feel anything while getting your routine cleanings and examinations. Whether you need something to relax or direct pain medication, Dr. Gaertner can create a treatment plan that includes sedation so that you can remain comfortable.

If you live in Florida, it is important to understand the reason that teeth become sensitive. Very often, it is due to the enamel on the outside of the teeth wearing away. Enamel can wear away due to age, what you eat, and improper oral health care. While brushing with desensitizing toothpaste can help, you need to continue visiting the dentist to ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy; otherwise, the sensitivity can increase. During your dental exam, let us know about the discomfort you are feeling so that we can discuss ways to reduce it by using methods such as a fluoride treatment or sealant.

Preventing Dental Emergencies

Regularly scheduled dental cleaning and examinations can help prevent a dental emergency. Many adults go far too long between visits to the dentist. As a year or two go by, infections can develop that create a painful situation and lead to dental emergencies. For example, a minor cavity can be corrected with minimal discomfort. However, if the infection spreads into the center of the tooth, the dental pulp can become infected and a root canal will become necessary.

Fortunately, these types of infections can typically be avoided by scheduling an appointment twice a year with Dr. Gaertner. It is important to keep in mind that healthy teeth are also less likely to become damaged or injured. By staying in good health, you can prevent teeth from cracking or chipping during an accident.

Education

During the teeth cleaning process and examination, we will also discuss ways in which you can keep your teeth and gums healthy at home. At Bliss Dental, we believe that good oral hygiene at home is important in conjunction with visiting our office. We recommend that you use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth twice a day and use fluoride toothpaste. This will keep harmful sugar and bacteria off of your teeth and the fluoride will help to strengthen them. You will also benefit from flossing daily to get food particles and bacteria out of hard-to-reach places. Following up with an antibacterial mouthwash will help to kill any remaining germs.

Your diet is also important for good oral health. Make sure to drink plenty of water and eat a diet that contains dairy products, lean protein, green vegetables, and complex carbs so that your body gets the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. We can provide additional tips and information during your process of cleaning and examinations. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Gaertner, call 305-274-6500.

Preventative Dental Care Can Save You Money

In addition to helping you avoid a nasty toothache and saving you time, preventative dental care can also save you money. At Bliss Dental, we can treat your tooth decay or infected tooth, regardless of how minor or severe the problem is. We prefer, however, to identify the problem quickly and before it has the chance to spread and cause you a great deal of discomfort. It is also important to note that if you have a small cavity, all that you will likely need is for the decayed portion to be removed. A filling can then restore the missing tooth structure. While the cost of every procedure depends on the extent of the work being done, a good rule of thumb is that a filling will cost around a third of what a crown will cost.

If you are looking to save money, catching a cavity early, when it only needs a filling, will provide significant savings. Unfortunately, those that do not receive regular dental care often wait until the discomfort is so severe that they can’t stand it any longer. By this point, the decay or infection is likely to be so severe that a crown will be necessary. Given the higher cost, you could have three fillings for the price of one crown. Therefore, preventative oral care also makes financial sense in addition to reducing any discomfort.

Deep Cleaning Can Prevent Tooth Loss

Another way that preventative dental care can save you money is in the realm of tooth loss. A leading cause of tooth loss among adults is gum disease. If tooth plaque and bacteria are left on your gums and teeth, they can become trapped underneath the gum tissue. This can cause them to swell and bleed. During regular dental appointments, we can identify if there is a risk of gum disease and perform a deep dental cleaning if necessary.

Once the plaque and bacteria have been removed, your gums should return to good health; however, if gum disease is left untreated, your gums can start to recede, and pockets can be created in the gum tissue. This will expose your teeth to attack, and bone and tooth loss. At that point, you will be forced to either live with a missing tooth or replace it using dentures, a dental bridge, or a dental implant.

All of these solutions are effective and can bring you a brighter smile, but they will cost you significantly more money than what you would spend on a simple teeth cleaning procedure and dental exam. The cost comparison is truly no comparison at all. If you are budget-conscious, having regular teeth cleaning sessions should, therefore, be a top priority. At Bliss Dental, we can work with you to create a plan for preventative dental care and address any current health issues that you have so that your dental work is affordable. If you live in the 33183 area, don’t delay in scheduling your dental exam. Call 305-274-6500 today.

The Frequency of Teeth Cleaning

The frequency by which people should have their teeth cleaned has been a controversial subject. Generally, individuals should see their dentists every six months for an examination including professional cleaning. Nevertheless, this isn’t right for all patients, as those who suffer from gum illness need to make appointments with their dentist at least every three months because they require dental checkups and cleanings.

Furthermore, those who are diagnosed with tooth decay, those who smoke, and those who have other oral health issues will find it necessary to undergo professional teeth cleanings every three to four months.

Why Teeth Cleaning is Important

Teeth gradually accumulate plaque and tartar. This formation of plaque and tartar even occurs on the teeth of those who brush and floss every single day. It also occurs on the teeth of people who eat a vegan diet, the teeth of smokers, and the teeth of those with perfectly healthy gums.

This is precisely why everyone needs routine teeth cleanings at least once every six months at a bare minimum. Such frequent cleanings will help prevent the heavy buildup of tartar and plaque.

Procedures to schedule as part of a routine dental care

When you visit our Kendall, FL office for routine dental care, we will do several things. First, we will examine your teeth with a visual inspection. We will look at every single tooth to determine if you are suffering from a tooth decay process. We will also look at your gums to see if there are signs of gum disease and take images of your mouth to see if you have any infections that are not visible to the naked eye. If we identify anything, we will discuss a treatment plan with you. Otherwise, we will proceed with cleaning your teeth and gums.

Depending on your age, we will also recommend specific procedures that can prevent future cavities. For example, we often recommend fluoride as part of routine dental care. Fluoride is a mineral that, when placed on the teeth, can strengthen them and reduce the risk of getting cavities by 30 percent. If you tend to get cavities or live in an area of Kendall that does not have city water, this simple procedure can help you to stay healthy. As a bonus, getting a fluoride treatment is painless and fast.

Children Procedures

To avoid disease in children, we often recommend dental sealant as well since the sealant can be placed onto teeth with deep ridges and works as a barrier, preventing plaque and harmful bacteria from becoming trapped and causing cavities. In adults, this is not a common procedure, however, if you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, there are preventive steps we can take so that it doesn’t become worse. Tooth sensitivity normally occurs due to a loss of tooth enamel. This leaves the dentin underneath exposed and susceptible to irritation when you eat or drink.

We can perform a bonding procedure to protect the dentin. In order to do so, we will apply a tooth-colored material to tooth surfaces, shape it, and harden it using a special light. Once done, you will have a natural-looking outer layer that replaces your lost enamel and reduces or eliminates any sensitivity that you may be feeling.

This is one procedure that can be easily performed during routine dental care and will often prevent the need for crowns in the future. To learn more about bonding, we invite you to call 305-274-6500 and schedule an appointment with our Kendall dental office.

Other routine dental procedures that we perform on a regular basis

Teeth Cleanings.

If you want to prevent cavities, you need to keep your teeth clean. Daily brushing and flossing are important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, but unfortunately, it can be difficult to reach all of the areas in your mouth by yourself. This is why you need to visit the dentist for professional teeth cleaning twice a year. We can remove the plaque that has formed on and in between your teeth along with at your gum line. This is not just important for preventing cavities, it also helps prevent gum disease. Gum disease is typically a result of plaque becoming trapped under your gums. To schedule your appointment call (305) 274-6500. Our staff is gentle and we are confident that you will have a pleasant experience.

Deep Cleanings

Deep cleaning is necessary when there is a form of gum disease. During this dental treatment, we will remove plaque and tartar buildup underneath the gums in order to achieve a substantially improved level of gum health.

Fluoride Treatments

In addition to keeping your teeth clean, we can also strengthen them. When you eat and brush your teeth, you could be gently stripping away your enamel. Foods that are acidic and drinks like soda have a low pH level and can dissolve your dentin. Cola products, for example, have a pH level closer to battery acid than they do to water. This means that your teeth can gradually become weaker and more susceptible to decay and even damage. To combat this, you need to strengthen them. A fluoride treatment is one way to do so.

We can apply fluoride to your teeth in a matter of minutes. You will experience no irritation and this mineral will strengthen your teeth enough to reduce the risk of cavities by 30 percent. If you live in Kendall, FL, we encourage you to schedule an appointment for a fluoride treatment today.

Dental Sealant

One of our routine dental procedures is applying dental sealant. This is a clear, plastic-like material that is gently brushed onto the teeth. At Bliss Dental, we recommend sealant for people who have deep ridges on the chewing surfaces of their teeth. Some people are born with teeth like this while others develop deeper ridges over time.

The challenge is that deep ridges are prone to having food become trapped in them and they are difficult to clean. As a result, plaque can form and the acid it secretes can cause decay. The best way to combat this is to seal the ridges so that nothing can become trapped there. We can do so in only a couple of minutes per tooth. This makes the procedure quick, easy, affordable, and an excellent way to reduce the risk of developing cavities.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening Kendall is an incredibly popular dental procedure for our patients because it provides a fast and affordable way to improve the appearance of your teeth. It is perfectly natural for teeth to become dull, yellow, or stained with age. If you smoke or drink a lot of red wine, coffee, or tea, your teeth can become yellow much faster. As a result, we regularly whiten teeth for people in their early twenties and up. The procedure works because the whitening solution is placed on the teeth and, when it is, it penetrates the enamel and starts the process of oxidization. This is where the molecules inside of the teeth change to reflect less light, appear colorless, and give your teeth a bright white appearance.

Dental Bonding

When it comes to routine dental procedures, dental bonding is one of the most widely used solutions for improving the appearance of teeth and restoring damaged ones. At Bliss Dental, we can use bonding material to restore a tooth that has been cracked or chipped in an accident. We can also use it to close gaps in between teeth, change the shape of teeth, cover dark stains, and make them appear better in general. As an added benefit, we can complete the bonding procedure in just one visit to our dental office.

After selecting the right shade, we prepare the tooth by roughening it up slightly and then placing the bonding material on top of it. We then shape it into place and harden it. By the time you are ready to leave, you will have a fully restored and naturally beautiful tooth.

Dental Crowns

If you have suffered extensive damage to one of your teeth or are missing a large amount of enamel due to decay or an infection, you may need dental crowns. This is a more extensive dental restoration procedure because a crown is a cap that surrounds your entire tooth. It can be made of a tooth-colored resin or porcelain so that it appears perfectly natural. This makes it possible to use crowns on either a front tooth or a back molar. Out of all of our routine dental procedures, this one usually restores a tooth that has been cracked or chipped and cannot be restored with a veneer or bonding due to the location of the tooth or the severity of the damage.

Dental Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose Dr. Gaertner of Bliss Dental

As the son of a dentist, Dr. Gaertner’s passion for dentistry began at an early age. Following high school, Dr. Gaertner attended Nova Southeastern University in Florida where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, then graduated with his Doctorate of Dental Medicine (D.M.D) degree. Dr. Gaertner has practiced dentistry in both the United States and his home country of Belgium and now calls the Miami area home.

He practices a variety of dentistry, including Cosmetic Dentistry, Smile Makeovers, Dental Crowns, Porcelain Veneers, Root Canal Treatments, Invisalign, and so on. Dr. Gaertner has also integrated the use of Dental Lasers and Botox injections into his state-of-the-art dental practice.

Bliss Dental is a full-service facility, offering top-notch patient care and providing services that range from routine dental care to endodontics to cosmetic and restorative dentistry services that enhance patients’ smiles.

Helpful Related Links

• American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
• WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015