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General Dentistry Columbia, SC

General Dentistry Begins with Preventative Care

Oral care and hygiene depend on a partnership between you and your dentist. For your part, you need to do your twice-daily brushing and daily flossing as recommended by the ADA. You also need to remember to make your appointments for your twice-annual appointments. At these appointments, we do our part to keep your teeth healthy and attractive.

We will thoroughly clean your teeth, including removing hardened plaque that you cannot remove with regular brushing. Dr. Adam Hahn will conduct a thorough tooth-by-tooth exam, which includes an oral cancer screening, periodontal analysis, and bite assessment.

Your smile is important to your image, so keeping it healthy should be a priority. We built our dental practice’s general dentistry foundation on preventive care, so you can avoid major restorative issues and keep your smile looking and feeling great for a lifetime.

Dental Cleanings in Columbia, SC

We are so glad you do your part in keeping your teeth clean by brushing and flossing twice daily. It goes a long way to keeping your smile healthy and lowering your risk of gum disease and its whole-body complications. Even so, hard-to-reach spots can develop plaque which, if left on your teeth, will turn into a hard substance called tartar. A dentist can only remove tartar because it’s so hard. But that doesn’t mean it’s inactive. Within tartar is micro bacteria that turn sugar into acid that eats away at your tooth enamel. The tartar serves as a shield for the bacteria as it erodes your teeth over time.

During your dental cleaning, we take extra care to ensure that your teeth are squeaky clean and free of tartar and harmful bacteria. We check for signs of gum disease and use dental sealants to keep your teeth healthy in the months to come.

Contact your Columbia, SC, dentist today to schedule your twice-annual dental cleanings.

Oral Exams

You might think your twice-annual dentist appointment is all about cleaning your teeth. While we take extra care to ensure your teeth are clean, we also perform an oral exam. These oral exams are just as important as a dental cleaning.

During your oral exam, our Columbia general dentist will check your teeth and gums for signs of gum disease. We look for red, swollen gums and signs of tooth decay. If your teeth are sensitive, it’s important to mention it so we can address any thinning enamel. We also look for signs of oral cancer, degrading jawbone, tooth wear, and assess your bite for signs of TMJ disorder.

Your mouth is the gateway to your body and a prime environment for bacteria to grow, so having an exam twice a year is essential.

Periodontal Therapy

It’s important to take as good care of your gums as you do of your teeth. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. If we notice the signs of periodontal disease, we can perform periodontal therapy. This will not only protect your teeth, but it may also help promote whole-body health since periodontal disease has been linked to problems elsewhere in the body, such as heart disease.

Dental Sealants

Dental Sealants are a way of coating your teeth to protect them from decay. Most people think these are only for children, but they can also be useful for adults as well. We will typically apply dental sealants to your molars and premolars, where the grooves of the biting surfaces are most vulnerable to food accumulation, wear, and decay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need x-rays?

We perform x-rays as part of an oral exam. X-rays give your Columbia general dentist the whole picture of your mouth. It allows us to see between and inside your teeth, helping us to identify tooth decay between your teeth and under a filling, abnormal growths, bone loss, and the position of your teeth and teeth roots.

Do I really need to floss?

Yes! Flossing is the only way to prevent plaque and tartar build-up between your teeth at home. Preventative care is a large part of keeping your teeth clean and healthy. Food and other particles can get caught between your teeth and cause tooth decay before you can get to the dentist.

What type of toothbrush and toothpaste should I use?

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Toothbrushes with too hard of bristles can damage your gums and irritate them. We recommend toothpaste with fluoride because it helps seal and protects your teeth. If you experience sensitivity, you may want to look into a toothbrush for sensitive teeth or make an appointment with us to determine why your teeth are feeling sensitive.

Do teeth need fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is safe to use on your teeth and for your health. It fights tooth decay by sealing and protecting your teeth. We use it to keep you and your teeth healthy.

How do I fight bad breath?

To fight bad breath, be sure to brush and floss your teeth twice per day, replace your toothbrush every three months, brush your tongue, clean dentures or dental appliances, avoid a dry mouth, and visit your Columbia general dentist twice a year.

An Inviting Dental Practice

Every patient who walks through the doors of our spacious, welcoming building is greeted by our inviting team and escorted back to one of our many individual care centers.

If you are overdue for a general dentistry check-up or have a dental need, please call (803) 781-9090 or contact Smile Columbia Dentistry in Columbia, South Carolina, today for an appointment.

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