Preventive Dentistry

There are several factors that contribute to decay, tooth loss, periodontal disease, and other conditions. The goal of Preventive Dentistry is to provide advanced, safe, and effective treatment to prevent more complex treatment or emergencies. We make it a priority for all our patients. You can minimize your chance of developing serious dental conditions by maintaining good oral health thorough preventive checkups and examinations. During these twice-yearly visits, our team can keep your teeth free of plaque and tartar and ensure that your gums are healthy.

More people lose their teeth due to periodontal disease than for any other reason. Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, is an infection of the gums, ligaments and bone that support your teeth. Gums infected with periodontal disease are toxic reservoirs of disease-causing bacteria. Bleeding gums can create an opening that allows these bacteria to enter your bloodstream and advance to your heart and other organs. There is mounting evidence that connects periodontal disease to heart infection and stroke. At River Road Dental, our goal is to help you retain your teeth for life. Ask about our soft tissue LASER, used to arrest disease causing microorganisms and initiate the healing of periodontal tissues. We are very pleased to offer this frontline defense against gum disease.

When the nerve or pulp of your tooth becomes inflamed or infected, it can cause pain, swelling, and throbbing. This can be a result of trauma to the tooth or bacterial infection from decay. Root canal or endodontic therapy simply removes the source of infection along with blood and nerve supply, followed by an inert filling material used to seal the tooth. Generally, a crown is recommended to strengthen and protect your tooth from fracture. The goal of root canal treatment is to save your tooth from extraction. Why? To preserve bone structure, prevent premature aging due to loss teeth, and keep you smiling with confidence.

A dental sealant effectively seals out bacteria and prevents decay from starting in the first place. It is important to prevent decay on the chewing surfaces of newly erupted permanent back teeth. The deep grooves on these teeth can be difficult to clean with a toothbrush – especially when the toothbrush is in the hands of a child. With a source of food present, bacteria can easily hide in pits and fissures, produce acids and cause decay. Once decay is established, it must be restored by removing tooth structure and placing a restoration.

Protect your smile and help prevent concussions, neck injuries and dental trauma by wearing a professionally made sports guard while playing contact sports.