Teeth Cleanings
How are dental exams and cleaning different at a holistic dentist?
Any traditional dental office offers basic routine dental exams and cleanings. At our office we advocate a preventative approach to oral and systemic health. The goal is to optimize health now and keep problems from arising in the first place. We routinely use a variety of specialized tools to help evaluate the health of your teeth as well as the gum and bone. Then taking into consideration your systemic health, only then can we provide you with the optimized care you need to keep your smile healthy or get you to a healthy state. We use the data we collect about your oral health to compare visit to visit. This gives you a trajectory of your oral health and the opportunity to make changes if needed.
Why are dental exams and cleanings necessary?
Former U.S. Surgeon General, David Satcher, labeled gum disease the “silent epidemic,” affecting a reported 4 out of every 5 Americans. Scientific evidence shows a strong link between gum disease and inflammatory conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s. Periodontal disease starts as a bacterial asymptomatic subclinical disease. With proper care, patients can improve gum health and reduce the risk of developing serious illnesses later in life. It’s clearer than ever that healthy smiles support good health.
It is our goal to help patients live a healthy lifestyle that creates naturally strong and healthy gums.
How often should you come in for Dental Exams & Cleanings?
Teeth cleaning appointments are more than a reason to polish off those pearly whites. Every mouth carries bacteria (biofilm), many of which cannot be controlled by oral hygiene at home. Left untreated, certain bacteria can develop into diseases that can have a significant impact on your oral and systemic health. Because of the uniqueness of each individual's oral microbiome, Dr. Grabiak and your biological accredited hygienist will recommend you return for preventive or maintenance care at a frequency that best suits your needs. In addition to controlling the bacteria in your microbiome, regular oral care contributes to preventing tooth loss, eliminating bad breath, brightening your smile, and monitoring potential risks that may have developed over time. If it's been a while since you scheduled a routine cleaning, don't wait. Please contact one of our friendly staff members at (303)988-6118. We are happy to answer any questions.
What can you expect at the appointment for Dental Exams & Cleanings?
Think of your last dental appointment with the usual dental hygienist, and you probably think: Yeah, I’ll get my teeth cleaned and a lecture about flossing, and that’s it. Every appointment is just like another. Conventional dentistry trains patients to be relatively passive in their care. We want to bring about an end to western dental mainstream ideology: get on with the cleaning so they can get out of the dental chair and on with the rest of their day’s business.
In the biological model, your needs are not the same as every other patient. At your integrative hygiene appointment, we review your past, current and future goals for oral care. We want you to be involved in your own oral and overall health decisions.
The primary function of the mouth is breathing, eating, and swallowing. There are bones, muscles, nerves, soft tissues, blood, microflora, and more; that are all a part of a complex system. At every appointment, you can expect us to thoroughly evaluate this complex system to ensure the entire system is functioning at the highest level.
If you think you might benefit from a cleaning and exam, call our office today so that one of our helpful staff members can further assist you.