Fountain Valley dentist, Dentist in Fountain Valley, CA

Dental Hygiene/Periodontal Health

In addition to the meticulous cleaning, polishing, and examination of your teeth, we also take the time to help our patients develop proper oral hygiene habits at home. We will evaluate your hygiene techniques and make adjustments to your routine where needed. Dr. Kvarnstrom and our highly experienced hygienists Mirtha and Kristy will also make suggestions for preventative measures such as dental sealants or nightguards to protect against bruxism & TMJ.

If we feel that you are suffering from gingivitis or more severe gum disease, we may recommend a more extensive hygien program, including root scaling or planing (sometimes called deep cleaning) These measures can be instrumental in preventing bone loss and helping you to keep your natural teeth.

More and more evidence is surfacing in medical research, linking periodontal disesase to detrimental effects on our general health. This is why we have developed an extensive program called Soft Tissue Management to continously follow our patients suffering from periodontal disease. Our hygienists explain this program in detail if you have periodontal disease.

Oral Cancer Screenings

During a dental exam, the doctor will check your neck and oral tissues for lumps, red or white patches or recurring sore areas.

Screening for early changes in the oral tissue can help detect cancer at a stage when it can be more successfully treated.

Smoking, especially combined with heavy alcohol consumption (30 drinks a week or more), is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. In fact, this combination is estimated to be the most likely trigger in about 75 percent of oral cancers diagnosed in this country. Other lifestyle and environmental factors also may increase your risk of developing oral cancer.

Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure in which our hygienists remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line. Root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed with specially designed instruments. It is important to remove the plaque and tartar from the pockets, because aside from the bacterial toxins that irritate the gums, plaque and the rough surfaces of tartar make it easier for bacteria to gain a foothold.