Preventive Dentistry - Plano
Stop Dental Problems Before They Begin
At Legacy Trails Dental of Plano, we’d rather help you avoid dental issues than simply fix them as they pop up. To do that, we provide a variety of effective of options for preventive dentistry in Plano, TX that can safeguard your family’s smiles for years to come. With them, we’ll make sure you never have to worry about your teeth and won’t need more involved dental work in the future. To learn more about these treatments, simply read on below, and contact us today to schedule your next appointment.
Teeth Cleanings and Dental Checkups
With just two of these appointments each year, we can keep your smile looking spotless and prevent numerous issues such as tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and more. A standard preventive visit will start with one of our hygienists thoroughly cleaning your teeth using sophisticated tools, specifically targeting those areas your brush and floss aren’t designed to reach. Then, your dentist will perform an oral exam to catch dental problems at their earliest stage. By coming in for these appointments regularly, we’ll make sure a small problem won’t have the chance to turn into a big one.
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Periodontal Therapy
Periodontal therapy is a collection of treatments designed to treat patients with gum disease, which is the most common dental problem around the globe. Should you show any signs of this nasty infection, we’ll be able to quickly spot it and provide treatment so we can restore your healthy smile.
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Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are how we can give vulnerable teeth an extra layer of protection against tooth decay and cavities. The rough chewing surfaces of the back teeth are particularly hard to brush, especially for younger patients, and this makes them much more likely to develop dental problems over time. With a dental sealant, we’ll apply a clear, thin layer of a plastic-based substance that will provide an invisible barrier against plaque and food particles.
Athletic Mouthguards
Sporting activities can be a great way to have fun, get exercise, and learn important life skills, but they can present a significant risk to your oral health if you don’t have the right protection. About 40% of athletic injuries involve damage to the teeth, which can cause severe pain as well as serious oral health issues like tooth loss. Thankfully, the team at Legacy Trails Dental of Plano offers customized athletic mouthguards designed to provide superior protection. Here’s a quick guide to how these amazing sportsguards work from our friendly staff.
Who Can Benefit from Getting a Sportsguard?
Research suggests that about a third of athletes will sustain dental injuries while playing sports, and studies have demonstrated that athletic mouthguards can significantly reduce the risk of pain and permanent damage. These devices provide a cushion that protects your teeth from blows as well as your dental arches from crashing together during impacts. The American Dental Association recommends athletic mouthguards for those who engage in activities like:
- Ice or field hockey
- Football
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Baseball or softball
- Volleyball
- Gymnastics
- Skating
- Biking
- Wrestling
- Martial arts
- Etc.
Professionally Customized vs. Store-Bought Mouthguards
Store-bought mouthguards are typically one-size-fits-all and are fitted through a boil-and-bite method, which can make them uncomfortable or prone to slipping out of place. Professional-grade sportsguards, however, are completely customized for an amazingly comfortable fit and made from strong materials that allow them to provide superior protection.
The Benefits of Wearing a Sportsguard
Wearing an athletic mouthguard from Legacy Trails Dental of Plano can provide a wide range of important benefits like:
- Protecting the teeth from injury
- Keeping the athlete comfortable during play
- Providing the peace of mind that comes from knowing your teeth are safe
- Potentially improving athletic performance by allowing the athlete to focus on the game rather than protecting their teeth
Caring for Your Sportsguard
Your athletic sportsguard can stay in great shape for several years if you take excellent care of it. Be sure to keep it clean and safe with habits like:
- Rinsing the device before and after use with water that isn’t terribly hot or cold
- Brushing the device once daily using hand soap and a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Storing the appliance in a secure place that is easy to remember and access
Nightguards for Bruxism
Are your teeth unusually worn down? Do you often wake up with a headache or pain in your jaw? These symptoms may be the result of bruxism, a condition that can cause you to grind and clench your teeth while you’re asleep. To keep your smile safe from the worst effects of bruxism, our team can provide you with a nightguard. By wearing this simple oral appliance, you can prevent your upper and lower teeth from making direct contact with each other, thus reducing the damage caused by grinding.
Customized vs. Store-Bought Nightguards
You may wonder why you should get a nightguard from your dentist when you could simply pick one up at the store. The answer is simple: store-bought mouthguards are not made with your specific mouth in mind. Consequently, they often don’t fit as well as they should; in some cases, they could even make your bite rest unevenly while you're asleep, thus worsening any jaw pain you might be experiencing. Professional nightguards tend to be more effective because they’re carefully personalized for each patient.
The Process of Getting a Nightguard
If our team finds that you’re experiencing symptoms of bruxism, we may recommend getting a nightguard to treat the problem. The first step is for us to take impressions of your teeth. A dental laboratory will use these impressions to design your nightguard. It may take a few weeks for the oral appliance to be completed. Once it arrives at our office, we’ll have you come in for a fitting appointment. In some cases, we may need to make a few adjustments before you can head home with your new nightguard.
Note that oftentimes, we may ask you to come in for a follow-up visit. This appointment will give us a chance to confirm that the nightguard is doing its job.
The Benefits of Getting a Nightguard for Bruxism
Wearing a nightguard can help you avoid significant dental damage in the long run. Untreated bruxism can severely wear down your enamel over time, and it can sometimes result in cracked teeth. A nightguard reduces the pressure that your teeth are exposed to, thereby lowering your risk of suffering from dental injury.
On top of that, a nightguard can potentially help with TMJ treatment. The grinding and clenching associated with bruxism can put a lot of strain on your jaw joints, resulting in a painful TMJ disorder. Wearing a nightguard can give your jaw a chance to rest and recover, which can go a long way toward reducing your discomfort.
Caring for Your Nightguard
Once you receive your nightguard, our team will give you instructions for taking care of it. Here are some of the basic steps you should keep in mind:
- Before and after wearing your nightguard, rinse it off under the sink using lukewarm water.
- Thoroughly brush your nightguard whenever you take it out of your mouth. Do not use toothpaste; hand soap is typically a better choice since it’s not abrasive.
- Your nightguard should be in its case whenever you aren’t wearing it. Remember, accidents can always happen, so it’s best to keep your case in a safe location at all times.
Oral Cancer Screenings
The American Cancer Society recommends that patients of all ages should have at least one oral cancer screening per year as early detection is essential to successful treatment of the disease. Your dentist here at Legacy Trails Dental of Plano can perform one as part of your standard dental checkup, saving you from having to schedule a separate doctor’s appointment. This exam only takes a few minutes and could be the key to helping you avoid a potentially life-threatening condition.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is a natural mineral found in many foods that has been shown to increase the teeth’s resistance to both tooth decay and cavities. This is why it is often added to both toothpastes and public water sources. Fluoride is beneficial for smiles of all ages, but it is particularly important for younger patients while their teeth are still developing. To give their smile an extra boost, we can have them wear a mouth tray filled with a highly-concentrated fluoride gel, and after a few minutes, their smile will be well-protected until their next appointment.
Emergency Dentistry
A dental emergency is any situation where a person requires immediate dental care, and they happen more often than you might think. Should you or a loved one sustain a dental injury or develop severe dental pain, you can rely on Legacy Trails Dental of Plano to be there and provide the immediate care you need. We do our best to always see emergency patients the same day they call in, so when you need dental care FAST, we’ll have you covered!
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Pediatric Dentistry
Whether your child’s teeth are just starting to come in or they need help with a cavity, we’re ready and able to serve your little one. Our kid-friendly team has decades of experience meeting the dental needs of Plano’s most precious smiles, and we have the know-how to make sure they have a great time while we take care of their teeth.