At Cosmetic Dentistry Associates, we believe patient education is essential to building a healthy smile. Understanding the importance of maintaining a healthy smile is crucial to your oral health success. During each visit, we take the time to make age-appropriate recommendations for you and every member of your family.
Patient education ensures that a patient is informed on their dental health; this can include discussing your diagnosing, learning preventive methods, and exploring the pros and cons of different treatment methods. Our team takes a proactive approach to your dental health. We have discovered that informed patients are more motivated to improve their overall oral health and wellness.
We invite you to ask any questions you may have during your appointment. Our experienced team of dentist will gladly answer any of your questions. Visit our Pomona, NY dentist office to learn more about improving your dental health.
Professional Dental Hygiene in Pomona
Everyone over the age of four or five should visit the dentist for a professional hygiene appointment twice per year. Our gentle hygienists will inspect your gums for periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss for American adults.
The hygienists are specially trained to detect, deter, and treat gum disease. We prefer to help you maintain optimal oral health so that you never have to worry about gum disease. However, if you develop periodontal problems, we’re here to help you.
If we find cause for concern, we may recommend that you change your oral healthcare routine or the products you use at home. We may also suggest a deep cleaning, which involves:
- Scaling to remove tartar from below the gum line.
- Root planing to smooth rough root surfaces where plaque builds up.
- Arestin antibiotic treatment to kill a bacterial infection.
Full-Mouth Reconstruction
When disease, decay, or damage wreck a smile, a patient may feel embarrassed about seeking professional help. Our Pomona dental office welcomes patients with broken-down smiles. We applaud you for taking a step toward reclaiming a strong and healthy smile for a healthier life! You’ll feel better emotionally and physically when you have a comfortable, beautiful smile to share with the world.
Sometimes a few crowns, fillings, or replacement teeth aren’t enough to completely restore dental health. When you visit, the dentist will evaluate your teeth, gums, and soft tissues, as well as your occlusion (how your teeth fit together when you shut your mouth). We will take X-rays, intra- and extra-oral images, and possibly a Panorex image to provide us with detailed information to create your full-mouth reconstruction plan.
We will also talk with you about your concerns. The dentist will address your concerns and present a plan to restore your optimal oral health. We will explain our suggestions, your options, and the time and financial commitment involved. With creative scheduling and financing, as well as options for anesthesia and sedation, you can enjoy the healthy, comfortable, beautiful smile you deserve.
We may recommend fillings, crowns, inlays, or onlays to restore teeth. Crown and bridgework, partials, dentures, and dental implants offer exciting, lifelike solutions to replace missing teeth. Orthodontics, oral appliances, and other treatments may help your unique situation, as well.
We sometimes work with specialists in an interdisciplinary approach to ensure that patients receive the treatment they need. Our goal is to deliver the smile you want and then help you maintain it for life.
Fight Oral Cancer in Pomona
Oral cancer kills more people nationwide than either cervical or skin (melanoma) cancer, and only half of the patients diagnosed will survive more than five years. One American dies every hour from oral cancer. The most common risk factors are tobacco use, frequent high quantity alcohol consumption, constant sunlight exposure, habitual cheek or lip biting, or poorly fitting dentures.
Although most oral cancers are found in people who use tobacco and/or drink alcohol excessively, 25 percent of oral cancers occur in people who have no risk factors at all. During a regular dental checkup, your dentist will examine your entire mouth, searching for a flat, painless, white or red spot or small sore.
Other signs of oral cancer can include:
- A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal.
- A color change of the oral tissues.
- A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust, or small, eroded area.
- Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips.
Two tests can determine if a trouble spot is cancerous. A brush biopsy is a painless test performed on areas that look harmless or do not have a clear cause. This test can detect potentially dangerous cells in the early stages of the disease. A scalpel biopsy, which requires local anesthesia, is usually performed on suspicious areas.
Remember to schedule regular checkups for everyone in your family. Two visits per year are recommended for general care. If, between visits, you notice any unusual changes in your mouth, call your dentist immediately. Together you and your dentist can fight and win the battle against oral cancer. For more information about oral cancer, support groups, or treatments, visit oralcancerfoundation.org.