Dental exams and teeth cleanings in Commack and Dix Hills

Where Can I Get a Dental Exam in Commack?

People need regular dental exams and teeth cleanings to maintain their oral health. Without these things, you could end up with major, and expensive, dental problems in the future. It’s better to let a dentist catch minor issues early when they are easier to treat. Issues your dentist will look for include:

1. Decay or the early warning signs of cavities, like white spots
2. Gum disease
3. Oral cancer
4. Loose or cracked fillings
5. Jaw problems
6. Signs you grind your teeth at night
7. Bone deterioration that can make dentures not fit anymore
8. Cracked teeth or teeth with small cracks you may not have noticed

Receiving regular teeth cleanings every six months can make exams much more seamless. Plaque that you allow to accumulate on your teeth without regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings can cause damage to your teeth and gums, as well as result in decay and gum disease. Even if you wear dentures, you need routine exams and for your dentures to be professionally cleaned.

If you need a complete dental exam in the Commack and Dix Hills area, please call our office to schedule your appointment. We’ll find a time that works best for you. 

Where Can I Get Gum Disease Treatment?

At Helfner Dental Associates, we stress gum disease prevention. Our dental hygiene team provides teeth cleanings and advice about keeping plaque away from your gums so it does not harden into tartar. Plaque and tartar can inflame your gums, causing gingivitis. If you notice your gums are swollen, bright red, and they bleed when you brush and floss, you may have gingivitis. Fortunately, gingivitis can be fairly easy to cure. A dental cleaning from one of our hygienists along with instructions on taking care of your teeth at home can typically reverse gingivitis.

Call us today to make an appointment for gingivitis treatment.

Gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease, a more advanced form of gum disease. It does not always progress, but everyone with periodontal disease had gingivitis first. Periodontal treatment is more invasive than gingivitis treatment. You may need a deep dental cleaning that goes under your gums instead of regular teeth cleanings. In most cases, this helps the gums reattach to the teeth from where they pulled away. If your oral cancer is more advanced, there are several surgical options. However, you will absolutely need treatment. When untreated, most adults over age 30 actually lose their teeth from periodontal disease, not from decay.

What Remedies Do Dentists Have for Bad Breath?

Everyone gets occasional bad breath from eating foods like onions and garlic. Unfortunately, some people have bad breath all the time. You may notice people backing away if they are standing close and you're talking, and this can affect your personal and professional relationships. 

If you don’t have your teeth cleaned regularly at the dental office, bacteria builds up in hard-to-reach places and it will cause chronic bad breath. A dental cleaning will often cure the problem, but you’ll also have to learn to take better care of your teeth at home. 

Smoking also causes bad breath. If you quit smoking and remove the habit, your breath will smell much better. Your dentist will also check for decay, infections, or gum disease because untreated dental problems can be the cause of these odors. If there's no dental solution, your dentist will suggest you see your medical doctor because there are other health conditions that can cause bad breath.

Why Do Dentists Screen for Oral Cancer?

Dentists and dental hygienists look for the subtle early signs of oral cancer during routine exams and dental cleanings. The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates 50,000 Americans develop oral cancer every year. In five years, only about half will still be alive, since we do not diagnose many cases until the cancer has spread. Some people skip regular exams and don’t have screenings. Where the cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate is between 80 and 90%. We encourage everyone to have a quick screening during their exam, even if they have no known risk factors. It's not just only heavy smokers and drinkers who get lung cancer.