Preventive Dentistry – Tyler, TX
Closing The Door On
Developing Oral Health Problems
There’s nothing that can compare to your natural smile, which is why we focus our efforts on preserving the health of your teeth and gums by providing thorough preventive treatment, like checkups and cleanings. Using our intraoral cameras, digital X-ray imaging, and other advanced dental instruments, we aim to spot and treat the smallest issues to prevent them from damaging your smile. To schedule an appointment to keep your oral health on the right track, contact our dental office today for preventive dentistry in Tyler, TX!
Why Choose Southern Oaks Dental
for Preventive Dentistry?
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Clear Digital
X-Ray Imaging -
Up-To-Date
Dental Facilities
Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings
The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist for a checkup and cleaning every six months in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy and prevent oral health problems from developing. During these appointments, our friendly and experienced team will conduct a visual examination of your mouth and take X-rays to determine whether any problems are developing below the surface. We’ll be sure to discuss any issues that we find with you and your treatment options. Lastly, we’ll remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth and polish them, leaving them looking and feeling healthy.
Learn More About Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings
Nightguards for Bruxism
If you often wake with headaches or sore facial muscles, you may be grinding and clenching your teeth at night. This condition – also known as bruxism – causes many problems when left unchecked, including dental damage, eroded enamel, and even TMJ dysfunction. Thankfully enough, Dr. Markle can help you avoid such issues with our custom nightguards for bruxism. These appliances shield one’s teeth and jaw from the force of grinding and clenching. To learn more, simply keep reading or call us.
Customized vs. Store-Bought Nightguards
The reality is that customized and store-bought nightguards aren’t the same. All in all, the former tend to be superior to the latter.
A custom nightguard (per its name) works better because it’s customized. Compared to one sold by markets or pharmacies, it perfectly matches your smile’s shape, contours, etc. That means a professional nightguard fits your mouth much more evenly than a store-bought model. In doing so, this kind is more effective at preventing damage from bruxism.
While store-bought nightguards do “work,” they inevitably take a one-size-fits-all approach. The result is that they often fit unevenly, cause gum irritation, and don’t protect you from bruxism as well.
The Process of Getting a Nightguard
As much as you may wish otherwise, getting a nightguard isn’t an instant process. It involves various steps that take some time.
Dr. Markle does various things to make (and provide) your nightguard. To start, he performs an oral exam (during your consultation) that checks your smile’s health and shape. He then takes impressions of your grin that he sends to a local dental lab. (This lab will use the sent materials to create your nightguard.) Once he’s received the finished device from the lab, we’ll have you return for a fitting and any needed adjustments.
After you’ve adjusted to your nightguard, we may schedule you for a follow-up visit. This session lets us confirm how (or whether) your device has “worked out.”
The Benefits of Getting a Nightguard for Bruxism
With a customized nightguard for bruxism, you’ll enjoy the following benefits:
- A Comfy Fit – Customized nightguards fit better than store-bought alternatives, providing patients with a more comfortable experience.
- Smile Protection – Since it stops teeth from grinding together, a nightguard prevents the wear and tear of your enamel.
- Relief from Pain – You’ll face reduced pressure on your jaw’s muscles with a nightguard. To that extent, you’ll experience less (or no) jaw pain.
- Cost-Effectiveness – Left unchecked, bruxism can cause oral health issues that require costly treatment. A nightguard can keep such problems from cropping up, thus saving you money.
Caring for Your Nightguard
To care for a custom nightguard, please adopt the guidelines below:
- Rinse your device with room-temperature water before and after each use.
- Regularly air-dry your nightguard in its case.
- Keep your nightguard’s case in a secure location to prevent accidents.
- When it isn’t in use, put your nightguard in its case.
- Clean your nightguard with a soft-bristled toothbrush and hand soap after each use.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is a mineral that can be found in a variety of products that you use and consume each day, like fresh fruits and vegetables, toothpaste, and even local water sources. Without enough of it, your enamel becomes underdeveloped, making it more difficult for you to fight off the threat of cavities and other oral health problems. If you have this issue, we may suggest fast and effective fluoride treatment. All we do is place a fluoridated gel on your teeth and wipe it off to provide your enamel with the minerals it needs to prevent decay.
Oral Cancer Screenings
At each of your checkups and cleanings, we’ll conduct a routine oral cancer screening. Our goal is to spot signs of this life-threatening disease in its early stages, increasing the chances of successfully treating it. To do this, we’ll conduct a visual and tactile inspection of your oral tissues, lips, and throat in search of abnormalities. If we see anything peculiar, we can refer you for additional testing that may lead to treatment. If not, it will only take a few minutes of your time!