Oral Examination
Regular checkups and x-rays are fundamental for the best possible oral health. We recommend that each patient visit our office every six months. For those with specialized treatment needs, visits may be scheduled more frequently as needed.
Professional Dental Hygiene
Regularly scheduled visits to Elliott Family Dental are an essential part of your dental health, preventing gum disease and keeping your smile healthy and bright!
Dental plaque and calculus can be removed through daily brushing and flossing, but there are places in your mouth that you cannot reach with a toothbrush and dental floss. A professional cleaning by our registered dental hygienist will ensure the very best removal of calculus in those hard-to-reach places.
At-Home Dental Hygiene
Periodontal disease effects three out of four adults over the age of 35 at some time in their lives. Thorough teeth brushing and flossing practices are the best ways to prevent cavities and periodontal disease.
Part of our dental practice at Elliott Family Dental is to instruct our patients regarding appropriate at-home dental hygiene to maintain optimal oral health and a healthy smile for life. Dr. Elliott’s team will guide you in all features of at-home dental hygiene, including proper brushing and flossing techniques.
Fluoride Treatment
Dr. Elliott may decide that fluoride should be part of your overall treatment. Fluoride treatments re-mineralize teeth, stop developing cavities and make your teeth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque, bacteria, and sugars in the mouth.
Tooth Sealants
Food particles and plaque collect in the grooves of your teeth that often cannot be reached by regular brushing and flossing. In these cases, sealants can be applied, effectively “sealing” the deep grooves and protecting tooth enamel from plaque and resulting decay.
Dr. Elliott can provide this simple procedure in one visit, in which a tooth-colored acrylic “coating” is painted onto the surface of the tooth. Generally, sealants take only a few minutes to apply, wear well under ordinary circumstances, and can last several years before a reapplication is needed.
Periodontal Disease & Scaling and Root Planing
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease or periodontitis, occurs when the bone and gums around teeth become infected. Gums can become irritated as a result of the bacteria found in plaque, at times turning red, swelling and bleeding easily. If the condition remains untreated, the gums separate from the teeth, causing spaces (also known as “pockets”) to develop between the teeth and the gums along the gumline. The result is the deterioration of gum tissue and jawbone, leading to tooth loss.
Scaling and root planing is a common treatment for periodontal disease. This method allows Dr. Elliott and a registered dental hygienist to provide a deeper cleaning between the compromised teeth and gums, preventing progression of the disease.
Mouth Guards
A variety of dental problems are the result of teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. Symptoms can include sensitive teeth, jaw pain, headaches and ear or neck aches. Teeth grinding can have serious, long-term effects, such as broken, chipped or cracked teeth.
If you suspect that you grind your teeth during sleep, Dr. Elliott can help you discover whether or not a medical condition may be contributing to this habit.
Once teeth grinding has been diagnosed, Dr. Elliott can provide a custom fitted nightguard for your teeth from a simple impression of your top and bottom teeth. Dr. Elliott will take special care to ensure that you nightguard is adjusted to your unique needs and fits perfectly for maximum protection.
