As your trusted dentists in Venice, FL and the surrounding communities, Dr. Ryan Holbrook and Dr. Jose Horak are happy to offer a comprehensive selection of dental treatments that are guaranteed to give you a better-looking smile and a healthier one as well. From crowns to dental implants, we’ve got a solution for improving your smile.
When it comes to keeping your mouth healthy though, the best method is always through preventive treatment. Preventive treatment is about taking precautionary measures to make sure that problematic issues or diseases either don’t appear or are limited in the damage they can do. Here are some of our most common preventive treatments that we offer in our Venice dental office.
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer actually kills more people nationwide than both cervical and skin cancer. Only half of the patients diagnosed with this deadly disease will survive for another five years. While tobacco use and frequent alcohol consumption are heavy risk factors for oral cancer, 25% of oral cancers will occur in people who don’t have any risk factors at all. That’s why your dentist will play such a critical role. During our routine check-ups, we can help detect oral cancer while it’s still in an early stage. We’ll look for troubling spots that include:
- a flat, painless, white or red spot
- a sore that bleeds easily or doesn’t heal
- a color change of any oral tissues
- a lump, rough spot, or small eroded area
- any pain, tenderness, or numbness in the mouth or lips
We provide two tests to determine if a potentially problematic area is cancerous. The first is a Brush Biopsy. This is a painless test that’s performed on areas that seem harmless and don’t have a clear cause. This test is used to detect potentially dangerous cells in the earliest stages of the disease. Our other test, a scalpel biopsy, requires local anesthesia and is performed on suspicious-looking areas. It’s important to schedule regular check-ups for yourself and everyone in your family; if you happen to notice any unusual changes in your mouth in between visits, please call us immediately so that we can schedule an appointment.
Occlusal Guards
When you grind or clench your teeth, you can cause extensive wear or fracturing of your teeth in addition to jaw disorders (TMJ), headaches, neck stiffness, and sinus pressure. Occlusal guards are a great way to prevent this problem. They will reduce the trigeminally innervated muscular activity, saving you from the possibility of future extensive dental work. Occlusal guards will comfortably snap into place on either your upper or lower teeth. You’ll wear them while you sleep and they’ll be able to evenly distribute the forces that are developed from teeth grinding.
Professional Fluoride Therapy
Professional fluoride treatment is an important part of your visit to the dentist. Fluoride has the ability to strengthen your tooth enamel and make your teeth resistant to tooth decay and acid attacks. While fluoride is found in our water supply and in many of our foods, we often don’t get enough of it, which is why these fluoride treatments are so beneficial. If you happen to have tooth sensitivity or a questionable area of decay, we may suggest that you use a professional take-home fluoride. We’ll recommend the most appropriate fluoride based upon your dental condition.
Sealants
One of the most common places where children will develop cavities is in the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. These teeth contain crevices that aren’t just susceptible for trapping food, but they’re also difficult for the bristles of your toothbrush to reach. Dental sealants are clear resin materials that are directly applied to these problematic chewing surfaces in order to smooth them out and help prevent tooth decay. Sealants are most beneficial when they’re applied to a permanent tooth as soon as it grows in. The process is simple – we just place a sealant on the tooth and use a special light to harden the sealant in place on the tooth.
Contact Your Venice, FL Dentist Today!
If you’re interested in any of our services, from preventive treatment to dental implants, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (941) 484-3885. Alternatively, you can fill out our appointment request form to schedule your appointment through our website. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to helping you maintain a healthy smile!