Routine Checkups

Routine checkups should be done at least every 6 months. At these visits Dr. Rossen or Dr. Jaquez will do an oral cancer screening, check for tooth decay, check the health of your jaw joint, and screen for periodontal (gum) disease.

Depending on your dental history, Dr. Rossen and your hygienist will determine a regular cleaning schedule to fit your needs. It is usually every 6 months, but Dr. Rossen may recommend every 3-4 months if you have a history of periodontal disease.

A dental sealant is an acrylic-like material that helps shield out decay-causing bacteria from the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The best time to apply them is when the six-year molars appear. Sealant material forms a protective barrier by bonding to the tooth surfaces and covering natural depressions and grooves in the teeth. More than 75% of dental decay begins in the depressions and grooves of the back teeth. Combined with proper home care and regular dental visits, sealants are extremely effective in preventing tooth decay.

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the remineralization process. The new enamel crystals that form are harder, larger, and more resistant to acid.

According to the American Dental Association, more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented annually in this country by sports mouthguards. While this is an impressive figure, it is unfortunately estimated by the National Youth Sports Foundation that more than 5 million teeth will be knocked out in sporting activities this year. In fact, dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports. Dental injuries could be significantly reduced if children, teenagers, and adults involved in the following sports wore custom fabricated mouthguards: basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, rollerblading, skateboarding, martial arts, boxing, hockey, kickboxing , mountain biking, and football. 

Nightguards are used to treat people who grind or clench their teeth at night. People with nighttime grinding habits may wear away their tooth enamel ten times faster than people without harmful grinding habits. Eventually, your teeth may be worn down and destroyed. Treating bruxism and clenching is very cost effective compared to not treating the problem. The alternative is to replace or repair the patient’s damaged or destroyed teeth with fixed crowns, fixed bridges, or removable dentures.

 

Dr. Rossen and his team feel that it is their job to educate you so that you can make informed decisions about your dental health. At each checkup, Dr. Rossen and his team will educate you about any current or future needs you may have to help you make the best decision possible. We will always provide options to you about your dental care so you can decide what is best for you. We always welcome your questions!

Snoring research has shown that custom fabricated dental devices worn at night that move the lower jaw into a forward position, increase the three dimensional space in the airway tube which reduces air velocity and soft tissue vibration. By increasing the volumetric capacity of the airway and preventing soft tissue vibrations, snoring is eliminated. In clinical research studies, these dentist prescribed oral devices have exhibited initial snoring prevention success rates of between 70 to 100%.

See Also:
Cosmetic Dentistry Services
Restorative Dentistry Services