Preventive Dentistry - Forest Lake, MN

New Patient Exam

A comprehensive dental exam will be performed by one of our doctors at your initial dental visit. We look at this appointment as building a relationship with you and obtaining all the necessary information in order to access your overall oral health needs and wants! This 90-minute appointment will include the following:

• An examination of diagnostic X-rays (radiographs, which are essential for the detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.
• Digital photographs for capturing real-time images of the current state of the mouth.
• An oral cancer screening, during which we will check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer or abnormalities.
• A gum disease evaluation, during which we will check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
• An examination of tooth decay, during which we will check all tooth surfaces with special dental instruments.
• An examination of any existing restorations, such as fillings, crowns, etc.
• An examination of your bite and chewing function, as well as how the teeth and skeletal formation function with one another.
• We will also take a look at any possible cosmetic concerns or questions you have about how to improve your overall smile and oral function.

Dental Checkups & Cleanings

In many cases, a trained dental professional can find signs of tooth decay and gum disease that you might not have noticed on your own. For this reason, regular dental checkups can improve your odds of having potential issues treated as early as possible. Additionally, with professional cleanings, we can actively protect your smile from cavities and other problems by getting rid of any plaque and tartar deposits that we find while examining your mouth.

Dentistry for Children

It’s essential for your child to start seeing the dentist as early as their first tooth eruption or birthday – whichever comes first. Our assessment for children under three will help establish a dental home in which parents are encouraged to ask questions about home care, nutrition, and growth.

Rest assured that our team always puts the comfort of our patients first; you can trust us to do whatever’s necessary to help your little one feel at ease in the dental chair. In addition to checking for existing problems, we can also evaluate the development of your child’s mouth and let you know whether there’s anything you need to be concerned about. We will also personalize our approach based on the age of your child:

• For younger children, we emphasize the importance of good brushing and flossing techniques and establishing the importance of prevention.
• For elementary-aged kids, we get excited as baby teeth wiggle out and adult teeth come in! We will assess your child’s jaw and if the teeth are crowded as they emerge.
• For preteens and teens, we stress nutrition, possible bad habits that should be avoided, how to prevent sports injuries, and maintaining basic brushing and flossing skills. Now that your child is old enough to understand the risks and benefits of their own decisions, it’s important for them to establish lifelong oral healthcare routines! We will also assess if they need their wisdom teeth removed or any orthodontic treatment, which may lead to their first interaction with specialists.

Oral Cancer Screening

Statistics show that oral cancer causes roughly one death per hour. However, your chances of survival will improve if your oral cancer is diagnosed as early as possible. Several symptoms can potentially be linked to oral cancer, such as strange lumps, red/white lesions, or changes to soft tissues in the cheeks and/or tongue; our team can screen for these warning signs and let you know if we find anything that you need to be concerned about. Then, if necessary, we can help you make arrangements to have an evaluation performed with a specialist or medical professional.

Fluoride Treatment

We may suggest fluoride treatments for children or adults who could use extra protection against cavities. Fluoride is a natural element that can strengthen your teeth and make them more resistant to decay – hence why it’s considered an important ingredient in toothpaste and other oral hygiene products. It’s also added to the water supply for most cities! When our team performs a fluoride treatment, we will gently place concentrated fluoride on your enamel so that the teeth can absorb it. The average fluoride treatment can typically be completed in a matter of minutes.

Dental Sealants

Cavities often develop in the molars and premolars due to plaque getting trapped in the pits and grooves of the biting surfaces of these teeth. This can be an especially big problem for children who are still getting the hang of brushing properly. Fortunately, there’s a way to protect your little one’s grin from decay; we can place dental sealants over the teeth in question to act as a barrier against cavity-causing bacteria.

Nightguards for Bruxism

Some people clench and grind their teeth while they’re asleep without even realizing it; this is called bruxism. To help protect you from the dental damage and jaw pain that this can cause, we recommend wearing one of our custom-made mouthguards. This seemingly simple appliance can act as a barrier between your upper and lower rows of teeth. That way, when bruxism occurs, the teeth will be better protected from wear, chipping, or cracking, and your jaw joints won’t be exposed to too much pressure. It's much easier to replace a nightguard than the enamel of your teeth.

TMJ Disorder

What can you do if you have headaches, constant clicking/popping, and/or facial/jaw pain? Many of these issues originate with the muscles, meaning that joint problems are an effect rather than the cause. This muscle tension can produce symptoms like headaches on one or both sides of the head and pain from the cheekbones down to the jaw.

Oftentimes, our team may recommend wearing an occlusal splint along with physical therapy. Not only can the appliance help protect the teeth from the bruxism that can contribute to TMJ problems, but it can shift the lower jaw to help it find a more comfortable resting position. Our team will be sure to give you detailed instructions on how often you will need to wear your occlusal splint to properly address your TMJ disorder.