Preventative Dentistry San Diego, CA
Keep Dental Infections, Cavities and Tooth Decay at Bay.
Prevention is better than cure, the adage goes. The same applies to maintaining excellent oral health and avoiding common, but expensive to treat dental complications. This also happens to be our philosophy that has been proven to be quite beneficial in stopping dental problems before they require costly procedures down the road. The key here is to offer our clients a broad range of preventative treatments whose objective is to identify dental issues even before they start.
This includes;
Dental Exams and Teeth Cleanings
Our compilation of oral examination procedures is designed to detect, diagnose and treat common problems such as oral cancer, tooth decay and periodontal disease right in their infancy stages. Our team of qualified dental hygienists have developed a comprehensive program that revolves around thorough and regular cleanings with aim of keeping gums and teeth healthy. This type of dental cleaning not only eliminates tartar and plaque but also stops gum disease and prevents dental caries.
Dental exams and dental cleanings are recommended at least once every six months. Get in touch with our office today and we will book your appointment at the most convenient time for you.
Oral Cancer Screening
The goal of oral cancer screening is to look for tell-tale signs of precancerous conditions or early stages of oral cancer. Here, our procedural tenets are guided by the fact that oral cancer is fairly easy to treat when detected early and there is a very good chance for an affordable treatment plan working if detected before it sets root.
Our specialists perform these examinations during your routine dental visit or when a patient requests specific oral cancer screening. Aside from the traditional methods of checking for abnormalities caused by cancer, we also have a number of extensive diagnostic tests that aid in spotting precancerous lesions that another dental clinic could miss.
People at a high risk of developing oral cancer (people with a previous or recent oral cancer diagnosis, tobacco users or those with a history of heavy alcohol use or significant sun exposure), in particular, are likely to find our extensive oral cancer screening very beneficial in maintaining a long and disease-free life.
Preventative medicine is the heart of excellent healthcare and we strive to educate our patients and help them make the most informed decisions to maintain their oral health.
Oral Cancer Screening
Considering that the number of throat and mouth cancer diagnosis in the US has been on a sharp increase in the past few years, it pays to schedule an oral cancer screening exam with us.
When it comes to the screening itself, here is what you can expect:
- For starters, you will be asked to remove any dentures or partials as a standard preparation routine before the specialist can begin the procedure.
- The health care provider will then proceed to inspect the neck, lips, mouth and the face, in general, for any anomalies that could point to cancer or precancerous lesions.
- Using both hands, our specialist will feel for the soft area beneath your jaw and look for lumps at the sides of your jaw that could suggest the onset of mouth cancer.
- The health care provider will also inspect the insides of your cheeks and lips for possible tell-tale signs of precancerous bumps such as white and/or red patches.
- After this, our diagnostic specialist will ask you to stick out your tongue as much as possible so that it can be thoroughly inspected for abnormal texture, color or swellings that could point to the onset of oral cancer.
- With the aid of surgical gauze, she or he will then proceed to pull the tongue gently on one side and the other to check the area under the base of the tongue for ulcers. The underside of the tongue, while at it, will also be checked thoroughly.
- Apart from this, she or he will also inspect the roof of the mouth and the floor as well for lumps or reddish patches. It is also customary to check the back of the throat too at this stage of the screening.
- Finally, the health care specialist will put a finger at the base of the mouth, and while using the other free hand under the chin, press down gently to rule out any possibility of having lumps sprouting in that area. The same approach can also be used to check for sensitivity and signs of inflammation that could signal the onset of mouth cancer.
Overall, it is important to remember that this oral cancer exam is quick and painless.