General Dentistry

ForwardDental offers a variety of dental services to accommodate the needs of our patients. Your dental care starts with a dentist and dental team who strive to provide excellent patient care.

General dentistry services include preventative measures for maintaining good oral health. Dental hygiene appointments (also known as teeth cleanings), tooth sealants, and fluoride treatments all help our patients prevent dental problems down the road. Regular dental hygiene visits to maintain a healthy mouth are recommended every six months. Your dentist may recommend more or less frequent appointments depending on the patient's age, lifestyle, risk factors, and general oral and dental health. The dentist will perform an exam and check for cavities and other conditions. The dentist will also discuss the results of the exam, and answer your questions about your dental health and the recommended treatment, as needed.

Dental Hygiene Appointment (Teeth Cleaning)

A dental hygiene appointment at ForwardDental consists of:

• Soft tissue exam and oral screening to identify changes in the tissues of the mouth.
• Periodontal or gum disease screening, including checking for pockets and a measurement of the depth of your gums.
• X-rays of your teeth unless you had x-rays recently. A full set of x-rays should be taken every 3-5 years, and bite wing x-rays should be taken every year. The x-rays help locate disease and decay not seen by the naked eye.
• Preventative cleaning which includes cleaning and polishing your teeth to remove plaque (a sticky film of bacteria on the teeth that produces acid that causes tooth decay).
• Your dental  hygienist will also teach proper flossing or answer any questions about cavity prevention or dental hygiene.  
• Applying sealants -- this is a clear material applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth to "seal out" plaque and food to prevent cavities. The sealant material is simply painted onto the chewing surface of the back teeth where it bonds and hardens in minutes. Sealants are common among children and teens because decay is more likely to develop early in life. 

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride varnish is completed depending on individual risk for decay.  Your dental professional will assess your risk at all regular dental examinations and provide necessary recommendations depending on dental needs.