Preventive Services

Prophylaxis (Dental Cleaning):
A prophylaxis is also called a cleaning. It is the removal of plaque, calculus and stains from the tooth structures. During this visit an oral exam will be completed. At this time Dr.Buchanan will also complete an oral cancer screening.

Fluoride:
During childhood, when teeth still are forming, fluoride works by making tooth enamel more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay. For adolescents and adults, the benefits are just great. Fluoride helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before they become visible in the mouth. Further, fluoride has been effective in decreasing root caries (decay along the gum line) in older adults.

Sealants:
A dental sealant is an acrylic-like material that helps shield out decay-causing bacteria from the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Sealant material forms a protective barrier by bonding to tooth surfaces and covering natural depressions and grooves (called pits and fissures) in the teeth. Though sealants are most often applied to children’s teeth, many adults are now seeking the preventive benefits of sealants as well. Depending on your chewing pattern, the sealant effect can last many years.