Preventative Dentistry in Pacific Beach near San Diego, CA
At Altrock & Fabb Dental we believe that preventive dentistry is essential to lasting oral health. We offer comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays in Pacific Beach to help all of our patients maintain a healthy smile and prevent the development of dental problems.
When you combine our preventive dental services with healthy eating and a diligent home care routine, you can avoid serious and costly dental problems. That’s the key to protecting your confident, beautiful smile for years to come.
Dental Exams and Cleanings in Pacific Beach
When you visit Altrock & Fabb Dental for your regular six-month check up exam, you receive a dental exam and cleaning from your dental hygienist and dentist.
Every examination includes five steps to check for any signs or symptoms that indicate dental concerns:
X-rays detect decay, tumors, cysts, bone loss, and tooth and root positions
Oral cancer screening checks the entire oral area for signs of cancer
Gum disease evaluation assesses the gums and bone around the teeth
Examination of tooth surfaces checks for decay, the condition of fillings and crowns, and overall condition of the teeth
Once this examination is complete, your dental cleaning, also called a dental prophylaxis, is performed to do the following:
Remove plaque, the sticky substance that inflames the gums and causes decay
Remove tartar, the hardened plaque that leads to advanced periodontal disease
Polish the teeth to remove stains
It’s essential to visit your dentist every six months for an exam and cleaning. Without regular attention from your dentist, you could develop cavities, gum disease, and other serious problems that are much easier to resolve when caught early.
What is Laser Bacterial Reduction (LBR)?
During a dental cleaning, your hygienist physically removes bacteria with a fine-tipped instrument, gently making overlapping strokes across the surface of each tooth until all visible buildup is removed.
To safely eradicate any remaining bacterial plaque and ensure the “cleanest clean” possible, a medical-grade soft-tissue laser is used just underthe edges of the gums after hand scaling is complete.
Our team uses a Gemini diode soft-tissue laser to effectively reduce infectious bacteria while still leaving your healthy gum tissues intact. As an FDA-approved medical-grade device, this treatment is safe, gentle, and effective and serves as a final “once-over” to ensure that nothing gets left behind.
At Altrock Fabb Dental, we don’t reserve laser therapy only for individuals who have already reached the point of aggressive gum disease. Instead, our dental hygienist in Pacific Beach will incorporate it as a preventative measure to help keep periodontal infections from developing in the first place.
Digital X-Rays in Pacific Beach
X-rays are one of the most important tools your dentist uses to learn about the condition of your teeth. Altrock & Fabb Dental is committed to using digital x-rays in order to limit the level of radiation involved in the x-ray process, help patients feel more comfortable, and eliminate the time and resources needed to develop x-rays.
You won’t need to undergo x-rays at every dental appointment. Instead, your dentist will recommend necessary x-rays based upon factors such as your age, risk of disease, and dental history.
Here at Altrock & Fabb Dental, we recommend a full mouth series of x-rays for all new patients, plus a full series every three to five years to track the condition of the mouth. X-rays of just the top and bottom teeth biting together are recommended once or twice a year to make sure new dental problems aren’t overlooked.
It is always our goal at Altrock & Fabb Dental to ensure digital x-rays near you are used to protect and enhance your oral health.
