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Preventive Care and Dental Cleanings

Regular dental cleanings and exams are an important part of your oral health care regimen. At Bowers and Oki Family Dentistry, we believe that prevention is the most important aspect of dental care. Today, we have the ability to reduce your risk of tooth decay and increase your chances of keeping your teeth and gums healthy for decades to come.

Dental Cleanings (Prophys)

Dental cleanings, or prophys, are normally performed by a dental hygienist in the dental office. The purpose of dental cleanings is to remove the plaque, calculus, tartar and stain that is not removed by regular brushing and flossing at home. Plaque is a sticky biofilm that forms on teeth, composed of bacteria and other material. When plaque is not removed, it will harden to form calculus or tartar and can no longer be removed with a toothbrush or floss. Left untreated, this buildup of bacteria can cause inflammation of the gums, bleeding, bad breath, cavities, and gum diseases including periodontitis. During your cleaning, the dental hygienist will remove this bacteria with special dental instruments. Your hygienist will also polish your teeth to remove remaining stain. Our gentle hygienists are skilled at providing a painless cleaning experience

Dental Exams

As part of your preventive care appointment, we also complete a full exam in order to evaluate your oral health. Your exam will consist of a review of your general health, an oral cancer screening, evaluation of your jaw and muscles, periodontal check and a cavity check. We will examine your existing restorations and take any x-rays that may be needed. It is important to catch tooth decay, gum disease, cracking teeth, and worn out dental work early. Catching dental problems early allows us to do minimally invasive dentistry, whitle reducing the risk of complications and more costly dental treatment.

Dental X-rays (Radiographs)

Dental X-rays or radiographs are a diagnostic tool that allows us to see cavities between the teeth, infections, certain tumors and cysts, developmental and root abnormalities. At Bowers and Oki Family Dentistry, we use digital radiographs which allow us to see images quicker with much less radiation exposure to the patient. The need for dental xrays varies for each person based on their risk factors, such as oral hygiene, diet, and history of oral disease and cavities.

Caries Risk Assessments

As part of our goal of providing customized care for each patient, we conduct a caries risk assessment. These assessments allow us to identify each persons risk of getting a cavity, and can help create a plan of care. We ask a series of questions so that we may uncover factors that will increase your risk of getting cavities and personalized recommendations on how we can reduce this risk. In high risk cases, we will conduct a saliva analysis to further investigate your unique factors that may be causing your tooth decay.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is generally offered to children and adult patients at moderate to high risk for cavities, as a part of your routine preventive care. Fluoride helps to reduce your risk of cavities, and can strengthen teeth that are weakened by acid, bacteria and small cavities.

Patient Education

At Bowers and Oki Family Dentistry, we believe that patient education is our primary duty. Prevention of oral disease is key and want to provide you with the tools to have a healthy mouth and avoid tooth decay. We are here to help you develop good habits, learn how to effectively clean your teeth, and decrease your risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay. We are here to answer your questions and be your advocate for dental health.

Your Visit

At your preventative care visit, your dental hygienist will evaluate your general and dental health. We will take your blood pressure, review your medical history, conduct an exam, take any needed dental radiographs, and clean your teeth. Your dental hygienist will review your home care and provide suggestions on how to better manage your oral health at home. We will answer questions you have about recommended treatment and assist you with any new goals you have for your mouth. We are excited to be your partner in oral health!

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I brush my teeth?

For most people, brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once a day is ideal. This gets is enough to get off most of the bacteria before it hardens and has the chance to cause a gum infection or other dental problems. For those patients who are prone to cavities and heavy buildup on their teeth, brushing 3 times a day can help to minimize risk. We recommend waiting 30 minutes after eating to brush however, so the the pH of your saliva can return to a more neutral level.

How often should I get my teeth cleaned?

Everyone is different and we personalize the interval time for each patient to meet his or her needs. For most people, getting a dental cleaning every 6 months is optimal to prevent the development of periodontal disease, remove buildup, and help keep the gums healthy. Those patients who are prone to periodontal disease, tend to develop heavy plaque and tartar buildup, have heavy stain, have difficulty brushing and flossing, or are at high risk for cavities or other disease of the oral cavity, it will typically be recommend that they get a cleaning every 3-4 months. For some patients with great home care or those that are at an extremely low risk for diseases of the oral cavity and periodontal disease, we recommend a cleaning every 12 months.

During your teeth cleaning appointment, we will do a complete exam to check for cavities and periodontal disease, do an oral cancer screening, take needed x-rays, and remove any plaque, calculus, tartar and stain from your teeth and gums. As with your general health, disease, risk and symptoms can change over time. You may go years without gum disease or cavities and develop them later in life or when lifestyle, medications, or general health conditions change. We make it our job to make sure your care and recommended protocols change along with you to address your needs at every stage. Your needs change over time and we make sure that we are treating you optimally and meeting your current needs.

What toothpaste should I use?

The brand of toothpaste is a personal preference. The important feature you should look for is a fluoride containing toothpaste with the ADA seal of approval. The main purpose of toothpaste is to provide the fluoride your teeth need to help fight cavities.

Toothpastes advertised as whitening toothpaste often have abrasives in them for surface stain removal. Using these excessively can wear away the enamel, leading to sensitivity problems. Tartar control toothpastes often cause staining and are rarely recommended.

Sensitive toothpastes contain an ingredient to help reduce sensitivity to hot and cold. These work well for patients with sensitive teeth but generally need to be used regularly to have an affect.

Some people have a high risk for developing cavities. For these patients, we will prescribe a toothpaste with a different strength of fluoride. This will help to strengthen the teeth and decrease the chance of developing a cavity.

Why are my teeth sensitive?

Tooth sensitivity can have several different causes. If you are noticing sensitivity in your teeth that you haven't had before, it is a good idea to have your dentist check for possible causes.

Sometimes sensitivity is caused by something simple such as gum recession or inflammation. Sensitivity can also be a result of tooth trauma (ie. biting on something hard, an accident, or grinding and clenching) or a developing cavity. There are times when sensitivity is a sign of something more significant such as an infection, a tooth fracture, or other oral pathology.

Why do I need X-rays?

X-rays or radiographs are a useful diagnostic tool which allow us to see parts of the teeth and surrounding structures that are not visible during a simple oral exam. They help your dentist find areas of decay between teeth, decay under existing fillings and crowns, bone loss and other signs of periodontal disease, infections, cysts, and some tumors. In children x-rays help us evaluate growth and check for development of teeth, along with evaluating for dental decay.

Frequency of radiographs varies from person to person based on their risk factors and history of dental decay. In general, 4 bitewing radiographs are taken once a year and a full mouth series every 5-10 years.

At Bowers and Oki Family Dentistry, we use digital radiography which allows us to use a much lower dose of radiation. X-rays taken digitally are very safe.

Meet Our Doctors:

Jonathan Bowers DMD
Dentist

Dr. Jonathan Bowers is originally from Janesville, Wisconsin. He received his BS in Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin. After working as a biochemist for a few years, he then ...

Tracee
Hygienist

Tracee has worked in the dental field in Albuquerque for twenty five years. She completed her dental hygiene training at UNM and grew up south of Albuquerque in the town ...

Jessica
Hygienist

Jessica is a native New Mexican and has lived in Albuquerque most of her life. She started her career in dentistry in 1993 as a dental assistant. In 2001 she ...

Debbie
Hygienist

Bio Coming Soon

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