Preventive Dental Care

Preventive dental care in Lehi, UT, is important; it’s best to address and prevent dental problems before they become serious. The goal of preventative dental care is to prevent cavities, gum disease, enamel loss, and early tooth loss from occurring. Good preventive dental care starts at home with brushing and flossing. Regular appointments with Canyon Crest Dental help keep your smile looking and feeling its healthy best. We offer a wide range of preventive dental services in Lehi, including regular cleanings, check-ups, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and more. The best time to start preventative dentistry is from the time a child’s first tooth appears. Choose Canyon Crest Dental as your preventive dental care specialist.

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Dental Exams & Teeth Cleaning

A dental exam is often paired with teeth cleaning. During the cleaning, one of our hygienists will remove stains that cause your smile to look dull. Buildup that causes gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss is removed. During the exam, we will look for things like broken fillings, cavities, and signs of an uneven bite. We also check for signs of early gum disease and oral cancer. If there are any problems that need to be addressed, we will suggest specific follow-up treatments.

Because everyone is different, we will advise you on how frequently to schedule regular teeth cleanings and dental exams according to your specific needs.

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Oral Cancer Screenings

The single most important reason for having oral cancer screenings is that, when oral cancer is caught early, treatment is more likely to be successful. Some of the things we look for during our screenings are sores and discoloration of tissue. We will feel to see if there are any lumps or abnormalities in your mouth. If there’s any suspicious tissue, a sample of the tissue is collected for testing.

People over the age of 40 who smoke or use other forms of tobacco are at a greater risk for oral cancer. Other risk factors include alcohol use, having human papillomavirus, prolonged sun exposure, and eating an unhealthy diet. Men are at a greater risk than women.

Another important reason for oral cancer screening is that many people who have it don’t have any apparent signs. That means everyone should be regularly screened to ensure they catch it early.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is a natural mineral produced during rock weathering and volcanic emissions. Dentists have used the mineral for decades because of its ability to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. Fluoride treatments help keep the tooth enamel strong so it protects your teeth. It also fights bacteria that lead to gum disease and tooth decay.

Fluoride is especially beneficial to people with a high risk of developing cavities due to plaque build-up. Sticky plaque builds up on teeth and produces acid that damages the enamel. Once the protective layer of the tooth is compromised, harmful bacteria get inside, damaging the tooth, tissue, and nerves.

Even if your water contains fluoride, you can benefit from Canyon Crest’s professional fluoride treatments. Treatments only take a few minutes and should be repeated every three, six, or twelve months, depending on your needs.

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Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are often used to prevent cavities for children, but some adults can benefit from them as well. The sealants are thin, plastic coatings applied to molars to prevent tooth decay. Applying protective seals over these areas protects the tooth from decay when brushing isn’t enough to remove leftover food.

The process includes first painting dental sealants onto the teeth, where it quickly bonds to the surface. They may be applied to baby teeth when they have deep depressions and grooves. More often, they are applied to children’s permanent teeth to prevent them from needing fillings; they can also prevent potential tooth loss. Adults whose teeth are decay- and filling-free can also benefit from sealants. The process starts with a cleaning and the final product lasts for as long as ten years.

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Periodontal (Gum) Care

A healthy mouth is more than healthy teeth; it includes all the soft tissue in the oral cavity as well. Periodontal care (gum care) is an important part of preventative oral care. When plaque builds up on the teeth, it gets between the teeth and gums. This can lead to gum recession or tooth loss. You need healthy gums to keep your teeth firmly in place.

Preventive periodontal care begins at home. Brush and floss your teeth and use a mouthwash that helps remove food particles that get lodged between teeth and between the teeth and gums. And be sure to schedule an appointment with Canyon Crest Dental for a periodontal exam to protect your mouth and identify gum disease early on.

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Athletic Mouthguards

Athletes in certain sports are at risk of having trauma to the mouth. Mouthguards can be placed over the teeth and gums to prevent bleeding, lacerations, or cracked and dislodged teeth. Athletic mouthguards should be one of the first pieces of safety equipment athletes buy. Athletes experience more dental injuries than any other type of facial injury. To get the full benefit of a mouthguard, it needs to fit well and provide adequate coverage. Custom fitted mouthguards made by Canyon Crest Dental offer the greatest degree of protection. Call today to learn more!

Nightguards for Bruxism

Grinding your teeth while you sleep (bruxism) can lead to several issues with the teeth or jaw. Without treatment, people end up with broken, chipped, or cracked teeth. The habit can also cause headaches and lead to Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ). We recommend nightguards made specifically for this problem.

Nightguards differ from athletic mouthguards in that they only cover the teeth and not the gums. Wearing an athletic mouthguard for bruxism can lead to gum irritation, putting your gum health at risk. Most people with the condition don’t realize they have it. With our expertise, we can quickly discover signs of bruxism and create a solution you’ll be comfortable with.

Headache Prevention

Many health conditions can cause headaches, but people don’t always consider that their dental health might be causing their pain. Many of the preventive dental services we offer are also effective at headache prevention. If you experience headaches, they may be a symptom of tooth grinding (Bruxism), poor tooth alignment, TMJ, or more serious conditions like tooth infections that have spread to your sinuses.

The right type of headache prevention depends on your oral health and the issues that could end up causing you lasting pain. Contact us today to discover how we can help prevent your headaches.

Sleep Apnea Appliances

Sleep apnea is a condition in which the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep. Airflow stops for extended periods, preventing the affected person from reaching deep stages of sleep. CPAP treatment, which uses forced air to hold the airway open, has long been the treatment of choice. Now, sleep apnea appliances are proving to be effective at helping people with sleep apnea greatly reduce the number and intensity of episodes while they sleep. There are many appliances available, but the most effective ones are custom made by a dentist.

Halitosis (Bad Breath) Treatment

Halitosis, “bad breath”, often results from poor dental hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly, food particles get stuck in cracks and crevices, causing bacteria to grow. These bacteria are what cause bad breath.

Other dental issues that cause bad breath include poor fitting appliances, yeast infections, tooth decay, and dry mouth. Persistent bad breath may be a signal that you have gum disease. Visiting us regularly can remove many contributing factors of Halitosis.

Get a smile you love showing off!