Preventive Dentistry – Rochester, MN
Preventive Dentistry Protecting
Rochester Smiles
Restorative and cosmetic solutions are always available here at Zumbro Family Dental for patients in need – but wouldn’t it be nice if Dr. Nicholas Brong and his team could help you avoid these kinds of issues in the first place? That’s the foundation of preventive care. With the help of routine dental check-ups, refreshing teeth cleanings, and other services designed to protect oral health, patients can enjoy a better, more confident smile in the long term. Contact our dental office today if you have any questions or you like to schedule an appointment for you or a family member to receive preventive dentistry in Rochester, MN.
Why Choose Zumbro Family Dental for Preventive Dentistry?
- Cutting Edge Dental Technology
- Children and Adults Welcome
- Caring Dentist and Talented Hygienists
Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings
Dr. Brong recommends that children and adults alike attend two dental check-ups and teeth cleanings a year. In cases where the patient is struggling with periodontal disease or a strong sensitivity to decay, this number may be raised. These routine visits are crucial because they allow our team to identify potential problems right away and protect your oral health from serious damage.
Your examination will consist of several steps, all of them meant to help our team form a complete understanding of your smile from visit to visit. Dr. Brong will visually inspect each tooth, the gums, the bite, any existing restorations, and other oral structures to any symptoms of disease or injury, while digital X-rays will reveal anything lurking under the surface. An oral cancer screening will be provided as well. Once our team at Zumbro Family Dental has captured all the necessary information, it’ll be time for Dr. Brong to sit down with you, discuss the findings, and offer recommendations for treatment.
One of the most constant threats to your oral health and happiness is plaque. This sticky substance forms over teeth constantly, filled with dangerous bacteria that can cause damage if left in place too long. Regular brushing and flossing will clear it away, but missed areas develop into hard deposits known as tartar that can’t be removed without professional help. That’s where our dental team comes in! One of our talented hygienists will thoroughly clean your teeth and gums, removing plaque and tartar and leaving your whole smile feeling nicely polished.
Learn More About Dental Checkups & Cleanings
TMJ & Bruxism Therapy
Do any of these symptoms seem familiar to you?
- Teeth that are inexplicably fractured, chipped, flattened, or loose
- Soreness in the face and/or jaw
- Constant earaches
- Constant headaches
- Increased sensitivity in the teeth
If so, there’s a good chance you’re suffering from bruxism, a common condition among adults that’s also referred to as teeth grinding. This “bad habit” typically affects patients while they sleep, making it difficult for them to stop and find relief on their own. Thankfully, Dr. Brong can provide assistance in the form of a personalized nightguard. This oral appliance is designed to protect your teeth and minimize the effects of grinding when worn, making it much easier for you to sleep worry-free.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a remarkable mineral that provides a range of important oral health benefits. Are your teeth getting enough fluoride? If the answer is no, we can fix that at your next appointment to our Rochester office. After we’re done examining and cleaning your smile, we can apply a concentrated fluoride gel or varnish to the teeth, giving the enamel a chance to absorb it and shore up its defenses. Here’s a quick look at how fluoride works and who it can help from the friendly team at Zumbro Family Dentistry.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in many whole foods and waterways, and it possesses the remarkable ability to reinforce dental enamel and kill harmful oral bacteria. In many municipalities across the United States, small amounts of fluoride are added to the public water supply, and this helps save citizens vast sums of money by preventing nasty oral infections. While fluoride can be harmful in incredibly large doses, the amounts present in toothpaste and tap water are nowhere near that concentration. In some cases, children who swallow toothpaste may develop indigestion, but they shouldn’t develop any long-term side effects unless they are in the habit of consuming entire tubes.
How Does Fluoride Treatment Work?
When your teeth take in fluoride, the mineral joins with calcium and phosphate in order to form fluorapatite, which actively helps prevent tooth decay and cavities. At our Rochester office, we can apply this safe and effective mineral in the form of a gel or varnish applied to the teeth. While fluoride can reinforce the teeth and reverse decay in its early stages, it cannot repair structural damage like chips, cracks, and existing cavities. After treatment, you’ll have to avoid eating or drinking for about an hour so the fluoride has enough time to work.
Who Benefits from Fluoride Treatment?
Most patients who receive fluoride are children since they aren’t known for being enthusiastic about proper oral hygiene, but adults can also benefit from the treatment. You may be an excellent candidate for fluoride treatment for reasons like:
- Special needs that can make brushing and flossing difficult such as arthritis or other mobility challenges.
- Medical conditions that increase the risk of oral infection such as diabetes.
- Dental sensitivity since fluoride can strengthen weakened enamel.
We’ll be happy to help determine if fluoride can be an excellent treatment option for you when we see you at our Rochester office during your consultation.
Oral Cancer Screenings
No dental checkup is complete without an oral cancer scan. Too many people end up dying from this disease when it could have been treated much earlier. Virtually anyone can get oral cancer regardless of their individual risk factors, so as soon as we find a symptom that might mean cancer (such as a red or white patch), we’ll inform you and help you take the necessary next steps, which typically means scheduling a biopsy.
