No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred by their family dentist, yet many other patients take the initiative to schedule an examination themselves.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted, allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition.

Plaque constantly forms on teeth, it is a clear film of bacteria that builds in hard to reach areas such as between the teeth and in the lines of your gums.

When allowed to accumulate the plaque can irritate the gums, eventually leading to certain gum diseases such as gingivitis. Research has provided evidence that gum disease has been linked to many health problems including stroke, heart disease, pneumonia, and even pregnancy complications

Plaque can be removed with regular brushing and flossing twice daily along with your dentists help with tartar removal. Early stages of gum disease are often unnoticed and by the time you begin to feel pain or irritation, it may already be too late to focus on prevention. Regular checkups can assist to prevent plaque and tartar buildup and many other dental complications that may become costly when treatment becomes necessary.

When breath has an unpleasant odor, it is known as “halitosis”. Depending on the cause, the odor can occur occasionally, but it has been known to become more of a long lasting problem with some people.

The mouth contains millions of bacteria, and the back of the tongue is where condensation of bacteria can occur. The bacteria that accumulates on the back of the tongue has been identified as a primary cause of bad breath.

Although bad breath and the accumulation of odor forming bacteria can be considered a common problem there are many causes of why frequent halitosis can be occurring, such problems could be:

Poor dental hygiene- If brushing and flossing is not conducted on a regular basis, bacteria and plaque can begin to form in hard to reach places. If this is the situation, poor dental hygiene can eventually lead to much more serious problems.
External sources – Smoking, chewing tobacco, drinking coffee, tea, or wine are just some of the causes of regularly occurring bad breath. These activities can also lead to the discoloration of teeth.

In dentistry, no mouth is the exact same. In order for our professionals to assess your individual needs, an x-ray helps identify any underlying signs of bone loss or gum disease that can be undetectable from the naked eye. It is typical for new patients to undergo a full set of dental x-rays to assist with an image of their oral health status. In order to help with future comparisons, we may request additional x-rays during follow-up visits in order to determine what treatment will be needed as well as to identify any conditions that may require prevention.

Dental radiographs or x-rays are necessary in receiving the highest standard of care. The diagnostic benefits far outweigh the minimal risks involved in the use of dental x-rays. We are careful to limit the amount of radiation exposure for patients by using lead aprons and digital radiography which reduces radiation substantially. Without the use of x-rays conditions which include cavities, missing or extra teeth and pathology/diseases will go undetected. Digital x-rays have minimal radiation, crystal-clear images and unbelievable speed. With digital x-rays, the patient’s images appear instantaneously on a nearby monitor, giving us a convenient chair-side image to analyze and refer to throughout the dental visit. We are pleased to offer this dental technology.

There are options of toothpaste that cater to those with sensitive teeth, which contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. These types of toothpaste have been known to decrease the symptoms of sensitive teeth over the period of several weeks if used regularly. Tooth sensitivity symptoms can become worse with the regular consumption of high acidic foods such as oranges, grapefruits and lemons and can be counter productive to methods taken to reduce sensitivity. if regular gentle brushing does not decrease symptoms, we can provide consultation to determine the treatment that’s right for you. Flouride containing products can also be recommended to assist in reducing tooth sensitivity.

Call our Gurnee office at (847) 249-8800 or our Kenosha office at (262) 637-8800 to find out more information or schedule a consultation today.

We proudly accept all insurances. Call our friendly staff if you have any questions about financial policies.