Preventative Dentistry
At Hurley Family Dentistry, LLC, preventative care is the foundation on which we’ve built our practice. While we have the skills and expertise to treat emergencies, perform root canals, and place beautiful crowns, diligent preventative care will reduce the likelihood that you’ll need one of these treatments in your future, saving you time, money, and potential discomfort.
Comfortable, Comprehensive Cleanings
Brushing twice daily and flossing once a day as recommended is a great start and will help to eliminate the majority of the plaque that accumulates on your teeth. Toothbrushes and dental floss do have their limitations, however. Even with the best home care, plaque has a tendency to remain hidden between your teeth and just beneath the gumline. If you have any misalignments, these areas are especially vulnerable, too.
Your hygienist will take the time to carefully seek out every last deposit of plaque and tartar (calcified plaque that can only be removed with professional instruments). These cleanings, performed twice each year, give you a fresh start and are the key to preventing cavities and gum disease.
You and your hygienist will also have the opportunity to review your home care routine and look for areas of possible improvement. Plus, during your cleaning, your hygienist will watch for any signs of periodontal disease.
Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, and we take it very seriously here at Hurley Family Dentistry, LLC. Recently, periodontal disease (which is also often referred to as gum disease) was linked to other serious chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disease.
Almost one in two American adults has some level of gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. If you do not have gum disease, a good home care routine and regular professional cleanings can help prevent it from developing. If gum disease has already developed, catching and treating it early will prevent it from progressing and causing serious damage to your periodontal tissue.
Fluoride and Sealants
In addition to your regular cleanings, we can provide you with quick and easy preventative treatments that will continue to protect your teeth long after you leave our office.
Fluoride, for instance, is a naturally occurring mineral that has been found to strengthen your enamel and significantly reduce the incidence of cavities. We will apply a thin varnish of fluoride following your cleaning. The varnish hardens immediately, and you will be able to eat and drink right after your cleaning.
Sealants are another great option for preventing cavities. Each sealant is a thin coating that is brushed over the back teeth and then cured to harden. This coating seals off the deep grooves of these teeth where decay-causing bacteria tend to lurk. Most children can benefit from sealants once their molars come in, as can adults who are prone to cavities in the back teeth.
Schedule Your Preventative Appointment Today!
At Hurley Family Dentistry, LLC, we provide reliable, high quality care for the entire family. We love building relationships with our patients, and we will always take the time to discuss your options with you so you can make informed choices about your care.
We can’t wait to get to know you, so give our Chesterfield dental office a call and we’ll help you get started!
Frequently Asked Questions
The number one reason a dentist recommends a night guard is due to nocturnal clenching and bruxism (grinding). Most people do not know they are clenching or grinding their teeth because they do it subconsciously while sleeping. Clenching and grinding has many detrimental effects on a person’s dentition. Untreated clenching and grinding can lead teeth to chip and crack, which can lead to teeth requiring crowns or, even worse, extraction. It is also believed that clenching and grinding can cause abfraction (wedges or notches in teeth at the gum line).
One of our goals is to provide long-term preventive solutions that reduce your risk for dental conditions and injuries. Nightguards can be a smart investment in your long-term dental health, especially if you are already showing any signs of grinding or clenching. This condition sets off a vicious cycle that can have serious long-term consequences.
If your partner has told you that you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep or you've noticed some of the other signs that point to nighttime bruxism such as pain in your jaws, a sense that your teeth are loose, teeth that look unusually short, or frequent headaches, please call our office today for an evaluation.
The short answer is yes!
At Hurley Family Dentistry, we understand life gets busy with work and family, but it is important to keep up a regular schedule of dental examinations and cleanings because the six-month checks allow us to detect disease early. Early detection of cavities can mean the difference between a filling versus a crown or – even worse – an extraction.
Your cleanings are also a key treatment in the fight against periodontal disease. Cleanings allow us to remove debris from beneath the gumline (where your toothbrush and floss have a hard time reaching), significantly reducing your risk for this chronic infection. At your six-month check, we'll also look for any signs of developing periodontal disease so that we can begin treatment early, when necessary.
Cavities and periodontal disease aren't the only things we're looking for at your examinations, either. Oral cancer is a very serious threat and can strike just about anyone at any age. The early detection of a cancerous lesion in the mouth greatly increase one's survival rate.
We take your dental health and your overall health seriously. Regular preventive cleanings and checks go a long way toward reducing risk and could even save your life.
Periodontal disease may be diagnosed as either aggressive or chronic.
Aggressive periodontal disease typically occurs during the adolescent stage of life and is caused by bacteria. Hormonal changes often play a role (which is also why pregnancy gingivitis – a gum disease flare-up during pregnancy – can occur).
Chronic periodontal disease is the most common type and is caused by lack of adequate oral hygiene. If a person goes a long period of time without having their teeth cleaned, they develop tartar or calculus. Tartar and calculus irritate the bone. A person starts to lose the bone around their teeth because of tartar/calculus.
This situation can quickly become quite serious. As your bone begins to deteriorate, gaps open between your gums and your teeth, providing a place for bacteria to reproduce. The infection and inflammation continue the cycle and will eventually cause significant damage to your dental health. Periodontal disease is the number one cause of lost teeth in American adults.
In its early stages, periodontal disease is easy to reverse. Improved home care and more frequent cleanings will restore your health. In its later stages, however, further treatment will be needed. Additionally, only procedures like bone grafting can restore lost periodontal bone.
If you are showing any signs of periodontal disease, such as bleeding when you brush or floss or sore, red, puffy gums, please call our office to schedule an evaluation.
A dentist cannot cure periodontal disease. A dentist can, however, treat and manage periodontal disease.
The first step to treat and manage periodontal disease is a deep cleaning where the dentist or hygienist cleans the tartar and calculus that extends below the gums to prevent further destruction of bone. Antibiotics may also be placed locally during this treatment.
If a patient does not respond to this first step of treatment, a more aggressive treatment may be needed or may be referred to a specialist, called a periodontist. While certain procedures performed by periodontal specialists, like bone grafting, can repair and replace lost periodontal bone, it is not possible to regrow this bone.
Prevention of periodontal disease is a crucial part of your preventive care. Routine cleanings and exams will help reduce your risk of developing this chronic condition and increase the chances of identifying it as early as possible.
Periodontal disease does not just affect your oral health. Studies are linking periodontal diseases to more and more chronic systemic health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Your health matters to us, and we want to give you the tools you need to live a long and healthy life.
Sealants are a preventive measure that many dentist are using to help prevent or delay the onset of a cavity on your child.
Children typically start getting their permanent teeth around the age of six. Most children do not have adequate oral hygiene or hand dexterity at that age to properly brush and floss their teeth. Typically, permanent teeth have more peaks and grooves than our baby teeth, which means it is more likely that food will become stuck in these teeth. A sealant fills in the grooves of the teeth, which prevents food from getting stuck. If food is not stuck on our teeth, a person is less likely to develop a cavity.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Charles Hurley
Dr. Charles Hurley attended DeSmet Jesuit High School, and then continued his Jesuit education at Creighton University, where he graduated in three and a half years with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He continued on at Creighton to earn his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS), graduating in 2014.
Dr. Hurley was drawn to the field of dentistry because it afforded him an excellent opportunity to serve his community. He is committed to providing patients with the highest level of dental care and takes the time to stay current with the ...