Tooth Decay Prevention
Tooth decay is a progressive disease resulting in the interaction of bacteria that naturally occur on the teeth and sugars in the everyday diet. Sugar causes a reaction in the bacteria, causing it to produce acids that break down the mineral in teeth, forming a cavity. Dentists remove the decay and fill the tooth using a variety of fillings, restoring the tooth to a healthy state. Nerve damage can result from severe decay and may require a crown (a crown is like a large filling that can cap a tooth, making it stronger or covering it). Avoiding unnecessary decay simply requires strict adherence to a dental hygiene regimen: brushing and flossing twice a day, regular dental checkups, diet control and fluoride treatment. Practicing good hygiene avoids unhealthy teeth and costly treatment.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a substance that helps teeth become stronger and resistant to decay. Regularly drinking water treated with fluoride and brushing and flossing regularly ensures significantly lower cavities. Dentists can evaluate the level of fluoride in a primary drinking water source and recommend fluoride supplements (usually in tablets or drops), if necessary.
Trimira Oral Cancer Screening
Dr. Groeber has incorporated the newest and latest technology in oral cancer screening. Oral cancer kills one person every hour of every day, and is more deadly than breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer. When detected early , oral cancer patients have a nearly 90% survival rate. Dr. Groeber has a revolutionary new medical device called the Identafi 3000 that uses Multi-Spectral technology to identify biochemical and morphological changes in the cells of your mouth, throat, tongue, and tonsils. These changes often go undetected to the naked eye, but are made visible through the use of this device. The test is simple and painless and takes less than 10 minutes.
The most common symptoms include:
* A sore, lump, or ulcer on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal
* A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth
* Unusual bleeding, pain or numbness of the mouth
* Consistent oral pain or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
* Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
* Bad breath
* Abnormal taste sensation in the mouth
HPV Testing
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common viruses found all over the world. There are over a hundred different types and levels of HPV, and the health risks vary based on individual cases. Some HPV types that are high risk may lead to an HPV infection, which may lead to cancer.
Here at Aesthetic Dentistry we are able to test each individual for the HPV virus. You simply swish and gargle a saline and then empty it into a small container. We will send this off to OralDNA Labs to be processed. They will then contact you with your results.
The Oral HPV test is a preventative measure and we highly recommend that the screening process begins at age 17. If found, there are three possible outcomes:
- It can clear without causing cell changes (if found early it may clear within the first 12 months)
- It may linger without any clinical signs or changes
- It may progress and alter cells, leading to malignant changes and cancer of the mouth, tongue, tonsils or throat
Please let us know if you have any more questions concerning HPV testing.