Dr. Mims and his staff of experienced assistants use the latest in preventive dentistry techniques and technology to ensure you and your family maintain optimum oral health. There are a number of dental problems that can arise if we don’t combine forces to prevent and treat issues that can cause serious damage to your teeth and gums.
To combat current problems and guard against future ones, Dr. Mims and his hygienists offer several services, including:
Professional Cleanings
Regardless of how well you think you take care of your teeth, professional cleanings should play an important role in your oral hygiene regimen. Professional teeth cleaning removes plaque that builds up on the surfaces of your teeth over time. A trained hygienist employs an ultrasonic scaler, which uses a steady stream of pressured water and vibration to remove calcified and live bacteria. Scalers, or curettes, are utilized to smooth the surfaces of teeth and remove bacterial deposits. The hygienist then uses a polishing paste to remove stains and remaining plaque. Your teeth should be professionally cleaned every eight to 26 weeks.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are made of a plastic resin that is “painted” onto your teeth and hardens once it bonds with tooth enamel. They protect enamel from acids, plaque and decay-causing bacteria. Dental sealants are able to withstand chewing and brushing, and most last several years. They are ideal for helping prevent decay in the teeth of children and teenagers. If you choose to have dental sealants applied to your children’s teeth, your dentist will check them at their regular dental appointments so they can be reapplied where needed.
Fluoride Treatments
In-office fluoride treatments involve the application of topical fluoride in the form of a rinse, foam or gel. They usually only take a few minutes, and may be recommended every three months, six months or year depending on the status of your oral health. These treatments help protect your teeth against plaque and acid-producing bacteria that cause decay and cavities.
DIAGNOdent™ Caries Detection
The DIAGNOdent™ laser detects unnoticed caries that slip below the surfaces of your teeth. It measures your teeth’s level of laser fluorescence, which is invisible or visible radiation certain materials emit when exposed to external radiation. The DIAGNOdent™ laser makes the caries detection process painless and nonintrusive, and supplements X-rays. It can also track caries progression over time.
Intraoral Photography
Digital intraoral photography enables a close-up view of one of your teeth, your entire mouth or a video tour of your mouth to help your dentist better see any oral health problems. These images are displayed on computer monitor or TV so you can see what your dentist does. Every image that is captured using digital intraoral photography can be printed out for your records.