Preventive Dentistry – West Orange, NJ
Stop Common Oral Health Problems in Their Tracks
Regular preventive dentistry visits are the key to lasting and dazzling smiles. You can’t maintain the ultimate level of oral health without seeing the dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings, which are the cornerstone of any comprehensive dental treatment plan. Sure, our office offers advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry, but we are, at our core, a general dentistry office that provides the tools you need to prevent problems and experience excellent dental health for years to come. Patients from all around West Orange, New Jersey come to D&G Dental of West Orange to keep their smiles in shape.
To explore your preventive dentistry options, please contact our West Orange, NJ dental office. Dr. Dawoud and his excellent team of doctors and staff members also serve the areas of West Orange, Verona, Roseland, Cedar Grove, and other northern New Jersey communities. Our team can’t wait to welcome you!
Why Choose D&G Dental of West Orange for Preventive Dentistry?
- We See Dental Patients of All Ages
- Advanced Diagnostic Technology
- Comprehensive Menu of Dental Services
Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings
To keep your smile beautiful and problem-free, we recommend that you attend at least two dental checkups and teeth cleanings every year. These appointments will give our team the chance to examine the soft and hard tissues of your mouth, enabling us to catch and treat any small issues before they can become major problems. And, a dedicated cleaning from one of our hygienists will remove plaque and tartar from all of those areas in your mouth that your brush and floss can’t reach at home, plus it can even break up minor surface stains!
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Gum Disease Treatment
Periodontal (gum) disease is actually the most common dental problem in the entire country, affecting about 50% of the adult population. This infection attacks the gums, roots of the teeth, and the bone that supports them, and it’s even the leading cause of adult tooth loss! We perform dedicated periodontal screenings at every appointment, and should we find something, we can use a deep cleaning or targeted antibiotic therapy to remove infection right away.
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Dental Sealants
When you’re first learning to brush and floss, reaching those tricky back teeth can be a struggle. With the help of dental sealants, Dr. Dawoud and Dr. Gencarelli provide your growing children with a little extra protection to help keep their smiles cavity-free. We’ll paint the sealant (a plastic material) over the chewing surfaces of certain back teeth, “sealing” them shut and minimizing the accumulation of food particles and bacteria. Our team may also recommend sealants for older patients who suffer from special needs or oversensitivity to decay.
Sports Mouthguards
When you or your child are participating in a sport, the last thing you want to be worrying about is an injured smile. Our team strongly recommends patients wear a customized sportsguard when involved in athletic events where contact with other people or a hard surface is possible. Better yet, unlike the unpleasant one-size-fits-all options you find at the store, we provide a personalized, comfortable appliance that allows free movement and speech.
Nightguards for Bruxism
Many people unconsciously grind their teeth while they sleep as a response to daily stress. This is a condition called bruxism, and left untreated, it can severely damage someone’s teeth and even strain their jaw. Fortunately, we can help patients rest easy by providing them with a custom-made nightguard. This is a small oral appliance worn to bed that places a firm but comfortable barrier between the rows of teeth to keep them from coming together during the night.
Oral Cancer Screenings
While anyone might get oral cancer, some risk factors make it more likely to occur. You’d do well to watch for the condition, as well as treat it (if present) as quickly as you can. All that said, we have good news; our office performs oral cancer screenings at each of our dental checkups. These sessions monitor your mouth for tell-tale symptoms and help you take steps towards diagnosis and treatment. To learn more about them, please continue reading or call us.
Signs & Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is a form of abnormal cell growth, so it typically displays key signs. The most common (and notable) of these symptoms include:
- Firm, raised areas of oral tissue
- Difficulties swallowing
- A lump in the throat
- Discolored or splotchy patches of skin
- Lumps, bumps, or cold sores that don’t heal after a week or two
- Unexplained oral bleeding or numbness
- Loose teeth
- Discomfort while eating
- Sudden changes in voice or a persistent sore throat
You may well have oral cancer if you show several of the signs above. However, you should still see a dentist for further analysis; their training and education allow for more thorough screening.
What Does a Dentist Look for During an Oral Cancer Screening?
Per its name, an oral cancer screening checks for signs like those previously mentioned. That means it looks for tissue changes you wouldn’t expect from a healthy and strong mouth.
An oral cancer screening mostly relies on visual confirmation, though some cases can differ. The dentist will closely look at your lips, mouth, tongue, and throat for relevant signs. They can also rely on advanced diagnostic technology to assess you for otherwise invisible symptoms. (To confirm whether such tools are necessary, the dentist will carefully review your situation.)
The dentist will report any concerning findings to you once the screening is over. Furthermore, they’ll also suggest whether any found signs require more monitoring. (Some symptoms may be benign and fade naturally, but the dentist will have to keep checking to be sure.)
What Can I Expect During My Screening?
The oral cancer screening process is pretty straightforward, though it may sound complex. Dentists need less than five minutes to perform it.
A dentist follows several steps for any given oral cancer screening. Beyond the already-noted visual checks, they’ll touch suspicious areas to see how firm or sensitive some tissues are. They may also gently palpate your neck to check for throat lumps.
You needn’t worry if the dentist takes odd measures or requests a follow-up exam. In general, such actions just show a need for further analysis; they don’t entail that you have oral cancer. An example would be that the dentist refers you to a specialist for testing and diagnosis that they can’t do themselves. Similarly, the dental team may want follow-up exams to see how some signs behave over time.
Fluoride Treatments
You don’t have to look very far to find fluoride. It’s in the food we eat, the toothpaste we use, and even in the water we drink from the tap. Regular exposure to fluoride has long been shown to strengthen the teeth and dramatically reduce a person’s risk for cavities, which is why we’re happy to provide a topical fluoride treatment at regular checkups. In just a few minutes, we can give a patient an extra layer of cavity protection to keep their smile nice and healthy between appointments.
Family Dentistry
Wouldn’t it be nice to have everyone in your family see the same dentist? Well, you can at D&G Dental of West Orange! Our family dentists treat patients of all ages, which will most certainly make your life easier. Offering a wide range of dental services, you won’t have to worry about getting a referral to another dentist in a different office. Everything is housed under one roof, so consider us your one-stop shop for all your dental needs.