Preventive Dentistry

At McGlone Dental Care, we help you keep healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.

We urge you to brush your teeth in the morning and before you go to bed, and floss each time you brush. This will help remove bacteria and plaque and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

We also recommend you visit us twice a year for your dental check ups which will include a visual exam, digital diagnostics which may including x-rays, and a teeth cleaning.

Cleanings

Hopefully, you take good care of your teeth by brushing and flossing twice a day. But even with great dental care at home you still need to visit McGlone Dental Care for professional teeth cleanings which can remove plaque, tartar and bacteria, and help prevent periodontal disease.

Before your cleaning we will check the health of your teeth and gums, give an oral cancer exam, and take x-rays if needed. We will talk to you about your medical history and medications.

During your cleaning we will discuss how to improve your home care and  offer suggestions on brushing and flossing techniques. You may also get sealants and fluoride treatments. Your cleaning and Preventive care is all about keeping your teeth and gums healthy and strong.

Root Planing and Scaling

Dr. McGlone may recommend a periodontal therapy called root planing and scaling, which helps remove dental plaque and tartar which can cause inflammation to the gums and surrounding bone. In addition, if you have stains on your teeth, they will be removed in the process. It will also result in better breath, because food particles and bacteria can cause a persistent bad mouth odor.

Root planing and scaling helps people who suffer from gingivitis, which is mild gum inflammation, and periodontal disease caused by bacteria.

It also protects you from disease. Sometimes the oral bacteria can travel through the bloodstream and cause lung infections and heart disease. Scaling and root planing removes bacteria and stops periodontal disease from progressing, and so prevents the bacteria from traveling to other parts of the body.

Scaling uses special dental instruments like an ultrasonic scaling tool to get rid of tartar and plaque from the surface of the crown and root surfaces.  In many cases, it includes delivering an anti-microbial substance below the gums, which reduces oral bacteria.

Root planing removes cementum and surface dentin that is embedded with unwanted microorganisms, toxins and tartar.  The root of the tooth is actually smoothed which helps the healing. The benefit of having clean, smooth root surfaces is it helps stop bacteria from spreading.

After the deep cleaning root planing procedures, Dr. McGlone may treat the gum pockets with antibiotics. This will reduce the irritation and help the gum tissues heal quickly.

Periodontal

Did you know that periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss? Many people have periodontal disease and don't even know it.

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and it is the only stage that is reversible with good teeth brushing and flossing and a professional teeth cleaning by McGlone Dental Care.

Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria-ridden plaque and tarter which irritate and destroy the gums and bone that support the teeth.

This can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease causes red, swollen, and bleeding gums, loose teeth, new spacing between teeth, persistent bad breath, foul taste in the mouth, pus around teeth and gums, receding gums, and tenderness or discomfort.

There is also a connection between periodontal disease and other diseases such as, stroke, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and increased risk during pregnancy.  The inflammation and bacteria of periodontal disease may affect other systemic diseases and conditions.

To treat your periodontal disease, you may need a scaling and root planing procedure, which consists of removing plaque and tartar below the gum line, and antibiotic therapy and antimicrobial mouth rinses.

If scaling and root planing does not stop the gum disease, you may need flap surgery, bone and soft tissue grafts, or guided bone tissue regeneration.

McGlone Dental Care can help you treat periodontal disease so you don't lose your teeth.