Dental exams and teeth cleaning in Hudson Valley

Are You Searching for a Dental Practice for a Dental Exam in Hudson Valley?

Are you new in town or looking for a new dentist? We want you to come in and visit our dental practice, we are accepting new patients. We have a friendly team who will make you comfortable, even if you have not visited a dentist in years. We’re not judgmental, just happy you’ve decided to get your oral health back on track. Our team will do our best to make you feel relaxed and confident with the services we provide. You can come in for an initial dental exam and get to know us. Before your exam, please let your dentist know if you’ve noticed any changes in your bite or tooth color.

During your dental exam, your dentist will check for:

• Cavities
• Loose fillings or damaged restorations
• Gum disease
• Bone loss if you have missing teeth
• Early signs of oral cancer
• Evidence you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep

We like our patients to come in for a dental exam every six months, although your dentist may want to see you more often, depending on your oral health. If you need any work done, your dentist will go over your options and make recommendations. If you have questions about your insurance or payment options, our staff is ready to help. Please call our office to schedule your initial appointment.

Where Should I Go for a Teeth Cleaning and Gum Disease Treatment?

When you come to our practice for a dental exam, your dentist or dental hygienist will scrape away the plaque and tartar built up on your teeth. Plaque is the gelatinous film on your teeth and tartar is hardened plaque which usually turns yellow. When plaque and tartar build up by your gumline, they can irritate your gums, causing gingivitis. If you notice your gums changing from a healthy pink to a bright red and they look puffy, you may have gingivitis. Your gums may also bleed when you brush or floss. If you suspect you have gingivitis, please call our office for an appointment. Our dentist can reverse this minor form of gum disease before it could possibly turn into periodontal disease. Factors which may also cause you to develop gingivitis include smoking, a genetic predisposition, diabetes, pregnancy and certain medications.

Periodontal treatment, often involving a deep cleaning, is more aggressive than treating gingivitis. Treatment is necessary to prevent the disease from damaging the tissue and bone holding your teeth in place. Your gums will start separating from your teeth where the infection set in. You may not feel and pain or notice that it is happening which is why we suggest a dental cleaning every six months. Your dentist or hygienist can spot gingivitis before it turns into periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the main reason adults lose their teeth.

Do Dentists Have Cures for Bad Breath?

If you have chronic bad breath, you’ve probably discovered breath mints and mouth rinses just cover up the problem. Everyone has bad breath occasionally from eating garlic or other foods, but if you have chronic bad breath, also called halitosis, our dentist can help. First, our dentist will check how well your oral care routine is working. In most instances, it’s bacteria in your mouth causing your bad breath. If so, your dentist can make recommendations for products, such as an antimicrobial mouthwash, which kills bacteria. He or she may also suggest you brush or scrape your tongue. Gum disease, including gingivitis, will also cause bad breath so our dentist will check your gums. Your dentist will also ask you if you have a dry mouth as this will also cause bad breath. Saliva washes bacteria away, so if you don’t have enough saliva, you will have bad breath. Artificial saliva or chewing sugarless gum can relieve the problem.

Why Do I Need an Oral Cancer Screening?

Our dentist screens for oral cancer by looking inside your mouth and feeling for lumps. It’s done during your dental exam; it is neither painful nor invasive. We highly recommend all of our patients over age 18 get screened during their routine exam. While oral cancer mostly affects men over 40 who are heavy drinkers or smokers, this is changing. HPV-related oral cancer cases are increasing. While it is rare, individuals with no known risk factors have also developed oral cancer. Therefore, we screen everyone because the screening can catch the disease before it spreads and becomes life threatening. Oral cancer takes many lives per year. We don’t want any of our patients to become part of this alarming statistic.

Please call our office if you would like to make an appointment for a comprehensive dental exam in Hudson Valley. We look forward to serving you.