Preventive dental care is extremely important in maintaining a healthy mouth and beautiful teeth. Having regular preventive care is the best way to make sure your teeth last your enitre lifetime. Preventive dental saves money by helping you avoid having to undergo major dental procedures because problems will be caught early. Preventative actions keep your teeth, gums and mouth healthier. On your own you can regularly brush and floss your teeth as well as clean your tongue to keep your smile bright and healthy between visits to the dentist.

Scheduling regular dental check ups with Kraig Stetzer DMD PA in Salisbury is vital so that anything problema can be found early and any tooth decay can be prevented if possible. Parents should teach their children at an early age how to take care of their teeth and get them used to visiting the dentist on a regular basis. This will allow Kraig Stetzer DMD PA to find any potential problems and take care of them early so that children and teens can develop a beautiful smile and have healthy teeth and gums as they grow into adulthood.

Preventive Prophylaxis

Prophylaxis consists of a thorough examination of your teeth and gums. This is a preventive measure to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. The procedure also involves a thorough teeth cleaning removing tartar build up in hard to reach areas of your mouth. The latest equipment is used to provide scaling, polishing and debridement when needed. Our Salisbury dentist recommends very strongly that patients have their teeth professionally cleaned every six months.

Dental Sealants

A dental sealant is a very thin invisible plastic coating applied on the grooves on the surface of the back teeth where chewing occurs. This sealant protects them from decay. Some teeth have very deep crevices and grooves, which tend to collect germs and food particles unless they’ve been covered with a sealant. Most kids and teenagers who get cavities at an early age get them because of these food particles sticking to the surface in areas that are hard to clean.

When our dentist in Salisbury applies the dental sealant it takes very little time, is easy and pain free. First the tooth is thoroughly cleaned then a gel is applied on the chewing surface of the tooth for just a few seconds. The tooth is washed and dried before the sealant is simply painted on the surface of the tooth. To help the sealant to harden a light is shined on it. The result is a shield on the tooth that protects it.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is a natural mineral existing in food and water. Fluoride treatments help in the prevention of tooth decay as well as protecting the surface enamel of the teeth. Kraig Stetzer DMD PA offers fluoride treatments as part of providing excellent dental care for our patients. The fluoride treatments carried out in our dental office in Salisbury contain a high concentration of fluoride to make it more effective in fighting decay and in strengthening the enamel.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy or endodontic treatment can often be performed in one or two visits. Kraig Stetzer DMD PA examines and x-rays the tooth then administers local anesthetic. After the tooth gets numb a protective sheet is put over the area to isolate saliva from the tooth during the procedure.

Then an opening in the crown is made to clean up the pulp, from the pulp chamber and root canals, and to shape the space for filling it.

After the space is cleaned the root canals are filled with biocompatible material. A gutta percha is placed with an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of the root canal. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening.
The patient will eventually have a crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. If the tooth lacks sufficient structure a post may be put inside for restoration.

TMJ

Oral Cancer Screening

Early detection is the best way to combat any form of cancer and oral cancer is no different. Diagnosing oral cancer through regular screenings is key to preventing and effectively treating the condition. Our goal is to find oral, neck and head cancers as soon as possible when patients come in with symptoms of bleeding, pain, dysphagia or otalgia. Our dentist can carefully examine the mouth and neck, which usually only takes a few minutes. This short exam is critical to the prevention, treatment and cure of early stage oral cancer.