Preventive Care

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for protecting your mouth against dental decay and oral diseases, such as

• gingivitis,
• bad breath (or halitosis) 
• gum disease.

Dr. Miller Dentistry helps patients maintain good oral hygiene by offering teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments to children and adults.

Oral hygiene and general health

Because your oral health impacts your overall health, it’s important to take care of your gums, teeth and mouth. Not only will you have a better chance of keeping your teeth as you get older, you will also be a healthier person.

Dental Sealants

Protecting against tooth decay

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.

Dental sealants vs. dental fillings

Sealing a tooth is better than waiting for decay and filling a cavity because decay damages teeth permanently and sealants protect them. Sealants can save time, money, and the discomfort sometimes associated with dental fillings. Fillings are not permanent. Each time a tooth is filled, more drilling is done and the tooth becomes a little weaker.

Dental Hygiene

Our dental hygienists are highly knowledgeable and educate our patients on how to best take care of their teeth and gums. In instructing proper brushing and flossing methods and helping patients choose the right toothbrush (or water pick), our hygienists build relationships with the families and individuals that visit our practice. 

Nutrition and diet

They approach preventive dental care in a comprehensive way and are able to examine other factors that often contribute to your oral health, such as nutrition and diet. Our dental hygienists understand how the food and beverages we consume impact our gums and teeth.

For example, let’s say you have sensitive teeth and are not sure what’s causing the sensitivity. Our hygienists can treat your tooth sensitivity by helping you find the right toothpaste and by recommending dietary changes based on your current eating habits.

Biannual dentist appointments

Preventive care can be as simple as coming to your biannual dentist appointments. While you’re in our care, our dental hygienists will improve your oral health by removing plaque, cleaning and flossing teeth, applying sealants and providing fluoride treatments and mouth rinses. From here, Dr. Miller can help you prevent other dental ailments, such as

• TMJ
• teeth grinding
• bruxism
• bonding
• dry mouth
• potential fluorosis
• canker sores