Preventive Dentistry for the Whole Family in Manchester, VT
Preventive dentistry has one purpose, to preserve natural teeth and supporting structures in a healthy environment. This goal starts with proper home oral hygiene techniques, a balanced diet, and healthy lifestyle choices, followed by our team’s professional efforts.
Check-Ups & Cleanings
Dr. Wagner & his team are passionate about patient education and believe that compassionate dentistry starts with well-informed patients. On a routine visit to our office, you can expect the following:
X-Rays: One of our skilled assistants or hygienists will consult with Dr. Wagner to assess the need for radiographs.
Oral Cancer Screening: Dr. Wagner or our trained dental hygienists will perform an oral cancer screening, inspecting the face, tongue, soft oral tissue, lips, neck, and throat for common signs of this condition.
Periodontal Screening: A periodontal (gum) screening consists of checking the gum and bone for signs of periodontal disease. (Learn more about Periodontal Treatments).
Prophylaxis & Periodontal Therapy: Our skilled hygiene team will assess your periodontal (gum) condition and determine what type of cleaning is necessary. A prophylaxis (regular cleaning) is recommended for healthy, disease-free patients (think non-bleeding when brushing/flossing, or without history of gum disease). Periodontal maintenance is a more specialized cleaning for patients who have stable periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing) is a cleaning that targets and treats periodontal pathogens and disease. We recommend periodontal therapy for patients with active periodontal disease (bleeding gums and deeper gum pockets). The goal of periodontal therapy is to remove plaque biofilm from the teeth and under the gums to stabilize a patient’s periodontal condition, and eliminate inflammation in the mouth.
We use state-of-the-art technology for hygiene visits to enhance patient comfort and to provide the most comprehensive and thorough cleanings.
Dental Sealants & Children’s Dentistry
Our practice welcomes children of all ages. Our team is experienced in providing safe, fun appointments for you and your little ones. We provide routine check-ups by keeping an eye out for potential dental problems, alignment concerns as well as home-care instruction. Dr. Wagner also highly recommends dental sealants for younger patients who are still establishing their oral hygiene routines. Dental sealants involve applying a coating to the grooves of adult teeth that the bristles of a toothbrush can’t reach. By adding an extra layer of protection to this area, we can strengthen the mouth’s natural defenses and potentially reduce damage to these areas.
Fluoride Treatment & Decay Prevention
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral found in water, and is essential to the developing teeth of children by strengthening the enamel. We recommend fluoride supplements for children based on age/weight while the permanent teeth are still developing and forming enamel. In addition, we recommend topical fluoride treatments for patients of all ages to help remineralize and strengthen the teeth. It also treats and prevents tooth sensitivity. Patients who have a history of decay or high decay risk can also benefit by using fluoridated toothpaste to maintain the health and integrity of these restorations. We carry Elevate Oral Care products, including their Allday line of fluoride toothpaste with xylitol. Xylitol is a natural plant sugar that also aids in decay prevention.
TMJ/Bruxism Therapy
Did you know that nearly 80% of people struggle with teeth grinding or clenching (also known as bruxism)? As a part of your initial exam, an occlusal assessment is done on all new patients to ensure teeth (along with facial muscles) function as they should. If you struggle with pain from grinding or clenching, we may recommend an occlusal guard to protect your teeth and dentistry from these potentially destructive forces. This therapy can also reduce tension and discomfort in the facial, neck, and upper back muscles.
We have seen many fractured teeth and restorations that happen during the daytime. Even if you are “covered” at night with an appliance, mindfulness during times of heavy concentration or stress is recommended. Human dentition wasn’t designed to undergo long-term effects of clenching or grinding.