Preventive Dentistry in Littleton, MA

Scheduling a regular hygiene appointment is a great way to keep your smile healthy for the long run. These visits allow our team to check up on your oral health and catch small issues before they become pesky problems down the line. Our team looks forward to keeping your smile strong with preventive care!

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preventive dentist in Littleton

Why is preventive dental care important?

Preventive dental cleanings, also known as prophylactic cleanings, are routine cleanings for patients with healthy gums. The American Dental Association recommends two cleanings per year for healthy patients. This gives our team a chance to remove plaque and tartar build up, so your smile can stay healthy and beautiful for longer.

Littleton, MA preventive dentist

Did you know…

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Flossing gets rid of plaque on 40% of your tooth surfaces!

Ready to schedule your appointment?

Call (978) 501-2222 today!

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VELscope for Oral Cancer Treatment

Our office invests in the best technology for your oral health! That includes VELscope, a small hand-held tool that detects abnormalities in the mouth that are often invisible to the naked eye — including oral cancer.

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Call (978) 501-2222 today!

What to expect at your preventive dental care appointment

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Professional Cleaning

To start things off, we’ll perform a complete cleaning of your teeth and gums, using special tools to remove any plaque and tartar that may have built up along the gumline. Essential aspects of your cleaning will include thorough flossing between your teeth in all those hard-to-reach places, and scraping off plaque that has accumulated along the gum line. To finish the cleaning process, we’ll polish your teeth, leaving you feeling refreshed, revitalized, and ready to smile.

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Any Necessary X-Rays

If you’re new to the office or haven’t had dental x-rays in a while, your dentist will recommend that you take some during your preventive care appointment. Dental x-rays let us see what’s going on beneath the surface of your smile, giving us the ability to find issues that may not be visible otherwise. With x-rays, we’re able to make more accurate diagnoses and create more effective and efficient treatment plans.

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Comprehensive Exam

Your Littleton dentist will review your x-rays and then take a thorough look at your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth. If we spot any issues, we’ll take the time to educate you on our findings, so you can keep your dental health on the right track. We make it our goal to keep you educated about your oral well being, so you can make the right decisions for your smile.

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Personalized Treatment Plan

Using the information we’ve gathered with your exam and x-rays, we’ll work together with you to craft a treatment plan customized for your unique oral health needs, budget, and lifestyle. If everything looks good, we’ll simply schedule your next routine cleaning and checkup.

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Schedule Follow Up Appointment

Our team is here for you! No matter what kind of treatment you schedule, our team is standing by to answer any questions you may have about insurance, financing, or anything else dental-related. We’ll do everything possible to make sure your every visit is straightforward and stress-free.

Preventive Treatment Options

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Self-Ligating

Self-ligating braces appear almost identical to traditional braces, but utilize clips.

Cleaning & Hygiene 

Cleaning & Hygiene 

Regular teeth cleanings and hygiene appointments are the foundation of preventive dental care. During your cleaning, we will thoroughly cleanse your teeth and gums, removing any plaque or debris from every surface in your mouth. We will even be able reverse minor stains to keep your smile bright and beautiful. We recommend scheduling routine cleanings and exams every six months for most patients.

However, good oral hygiene shouldn’t stop when you leave our office. Keeping up with your at-home brushing and flossing routine is equally as important as attending professional cleanings, and is the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Use a fluoride-rich toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes at a time; and don’t forget to floss! Flossing at least once every day, ideally before going to bed, helps to get rid of food particles, plaque, and bacteria that can’t be removed with brushing alone. 

Digital X-Rays 

Digital X-Rays 

Digital x-rays are safe, quick, and comfortable. Using the latest technology, we can create crisp, high-resolution images of your mouth’s structure, so we can make accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. Digital x-rays use only a fraction of the radiation as traditional film x-rays, so you can rest easy.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride treatments are one of the best ways to keep dental decay at bay. A simple, non-invasive procedure, fluoride treatments help to keep your enamel strong. After your cleaning, we’ll apply a fluoride-rich varnish or gel; we may ask you to refrain from eating or drinking anything for 30 minutes or so following your visit. Fluoride helps kickstart a process called “remineralization,” which restores essential minerals like calcium and phosphates to your teeth, keeping your enamel hard and resistant to acids that cause tooth decay.

Dental Sealants

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are a great way for patients to protect their teeth from decay. Dental sealants are often recommended for children, but can still be a great option for patients of all ages. Plus, dental sealants can provide protection for your teeth for years after being applied.

Applying dental sealants is a quick, non-invasive procedure that utilizes a dental resin that is applied to the molars. The uneven surface of molars, which are located in the rear of the mouth, are filled with grooves where plaque and bacteria can flourish. After application, the resin is cured with an LED light, causing it to harden into a powerful barrier between your teeth and the foods, drinks, acid, and bacteria that lead to decay.

Periodontal Care

Periodontal Care

Gum disease is extremely common, and can result in an array of oral health problems if left untreated, even including bone resorption and tooth loss. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. It's also the only stage that can be truly reversed with deep cleanings and good at-home hygiene. If you are diagnosed with gingivitis, it is still possible to regain control of your oral health by staying on top of your regular cleanings, checkups, and at-home care.

More advanced stages of gum disease, called periodontitis, have irreversible effects on your oral health, such as gum recession and bone loss. However, the progression of periodontitis can be stopped in its tracks, even if the effects cannot be reversed, though it requires more advanced and frequent treatment. Most patients will require deep cleaning sessions every three to four months. Treatments can include deep cleanings or scaling and root planing, and can help preserve your oral health.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer screenings are a part of every preventive visit, and are a quick way to fortify your peace of mind. Through consistent exams, we can catch oral cancer early on, which gives us a better chance at treating it before it spreads. A routine oral cancer screening can even save your life! 

Your dentist will examine your gums, tongue, and the rest of the soft tissues in your mouth, keeping an eye out for lesions and other abnormalities like lumps and discolorations. If there is anything that concerns us, we may recommend getting a biopsy, which will be analyzed by a specialist to determine the cause of the abnormality. Regular oral cancer screenings allow us to identify any potential problems before they become major issues.

Night Guards

Night Guards

Unconscious teeth grinding and clenching, known as bruxism, is a common issue that tends to happen at night while patients are asleep. However, night guards can help patients alleviate symptoms of bruxism by creating a barrier between your teeth that protects them from grinding-related damage. Depending on the severity of the case, night guards can be made from several different materials with varying degrees of softness.

To get fitted for a night guard, you will receive impressions or digital scans of your teeth and gums that we will use to custom-craft a mold that will then be sent to the lab. Your night guard will be created to match your exact specifications and measurements for a perfect fit. Night guards ease tension in your jaw, alleviating the painful headaches and preventing dental damage caused by clenching and grinding. Night guards can keep your smile healthy and help you get the restful sleep you need.

Did you know…

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25% of adults in the U.S. have at least one cavity.

Ready to schedule your appointment?

Call (978) 501-2222 today!

Did you know…

tooth icon

Save yourself money, time, and future dental pain by keeping up with your preventive care.

Ready to schedule your appointment?

Call (978) 501-2222 today!

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