Preventive care is the best way to ensure that your mouth is healthy and free of common oral health issues. With regular oral exams, prophylaxis teeth cleanings, oral cancer screenings and x-rays, Dr. Michael Santo, Dr. Miles Santo, Dr. Katelyn Domingues, Dr. Meaghan McCormick, Dr. Marcus Santo, and Dr. Steven Reff can catch any potential oral health problems early.
Early intervention can also save you time and money, as addressing problems after they’ve progressed can often require more extensive and complex treatment. By contacting the Red Bank dental team at Santo Dental Group and scheduling your next appointment, you’re taking a step toward better oral health.
Oral exams are essential for your oral health. With an oral exam, your dentist can help you recognize potential oral health issues like gum disease and tooth decay early, and prevent new conditions from developing.
For most patients, an oral exam should be done twice per year at a six-month interval. Regular oral exams at Santo Dental Group are the best way to keep your mouth healthy and ensure that you are free of any major dental problems.
Oral cancer screenings are performed as part of your routine six-month teeth cleaning, and include an inspection of the head, neck and oral soft tissues to check for any abnormalities that may indicate the presence of cancerous lesions.
Your Red Bank dentist will use a flexible, small camera to get a close-up view of the inside of your mouth and look for things like discolored patches of tissue, irregular or lumpy tissue, and other potential indicators of cancer.
Radiographs, which are commonly known as “x-rays” are an important tool for detecting things like infected teeth, cavities, impacted wisdom teeth and other such issues. X-rays are the best way to look at problems that may be hidden underneath your gum line or inside your teeth, or find issues that may not be visible with an oral exam alone. It’s usually recommended that you get a full set of x-rays every 3 years, with a “checkup” set of x-rays every year.
During a routine six-month teeth cleaning at our Red Bank office, a dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar (calculus) from your teeth, then buffs, polishes, and flosses them to remove any remaining debris. This helps remove stains and keeps your mouth healthy. Along with proper at-home oral hygiene, dental cleanings are critical for preventing cavities and gum disease.
Dental sealants are made of a special liquid plastic resin, and are applied to your rear teeth after a cleaning. This resin hardens into a strong, clear plastic barrier that prevents oral bacteria, acid and food particles from contacting your enamel directly. In turn, this prevents cavity formation.
Fluoride treatments consist of a highly-fluoridated liquid compound, which is brushed onto your teeth after a cleaning. It’s left in place for a few minutes, then rinsed away. Fluoride has the unique ability to “remineralize” and strengthen teeth that have been weakened by decay, which helps prevent cavities.
At Santo Dental Group in Red Bank, Dr. Michael Santo, Dr. Miles Santo, Dr. Katelyn Domingues, Dr. Meaghan McCormick, Dr. Marcus Santo, and Dr. Steven Reff can conduct a periodontal examination to determine if you have gum disease, and also provide you with orthodontic evaluations to see if you’re a good candidate for orthodontics like Invisalign. We also offer wisdom tooth evaluations and extractions. These are all things that we check for during your regular preventive examinations, so book an appointment or call (732) 530-1003 at your earliest convenience to get started.
We look forward to meeting you. Call 732-530-1003 or schedule an appointment online to learn more about how KOR can transform your smile.
