General Dentistry

If you’ve ever visited our blog here at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, you’ve probably heard the advice to have dental visits and cleanings twice a year. In fact, dental professionals have been advising the twice-yearly frequency for over 50 years. The American Dental Association counsels individuals to visit their dentist twice a year as well.

Is that an arbitrary schedule? Let’s consider the reasons why regular dental check-ups and cleanings are an essential part of preventative dentistry and optimum oral health.

What does your dentist and dental hygienist do during an exam and cleaning?

Look for Signs of Decay

Your dentist has tools that allow him/her to see places in your mouth that would be extremely challenging for you to see. While a cavity usually takes over six months to become serious, your dentist can see the telltale white spots that reveal that a cavity is forming. In the earliest stages, your dentist can stop the progression of a cavity. If a cavity drills into your teeth without you knowing it, it will eventually hit the pulp–Ouch!–and you may need a root canal and a crown. As you might imagine, both are far more expensive than an exam and cleaning. Besides, your dental insurance may cover twice-yearly exams and cleanings at 100%.

Clean Out Your Pockets

If you think dental care is unnecessarily pricey, you might not like this joke. We aren’t talking about your wallet here. We are talking about the gap that forms between your gums and tooth roots when bacteria and plaque build up. It’s not only acute decay that can damage a tooth until it is beyond saving. Gum disease that leads to bone loss is just as dangerous. A buildup of plaque creates pockets of infection between the gums and tooth roots. This leads to periodontitis, gum recession, and eventual bone loss. A professional cleaning removes the plaque before it can cause the gums to loosen.

Check for Oral Cancer

The Oral Cancer Foundation reports this grave stat: oral cancer claims one life every hour—that’s 48,250 deaths a year.¹

Clean Plaque and Tartar

Even if you brush and floss your teeth morning and night, plaque can accumulate. We have many patients who are vigilant brushers but are surprised when our hygienist uncovers plaque on their teeth.

Polish Your Teeth

When the hygienist polishes your teeth, it gets rid of the bacteria that allows the plaque to form. If you have , your hygienist can smooth away uneven areas below the gumline where bacteria can flourish. Plus, it feels amazing when you run your tongue over polished teeth!

Oral Health is Physical Health

Your mouth is connected to the rest of the body, but many men and women treat it as a separate entity. Some get regular preventative services for physical conditions but fail to recognize their oral health.

We’ve often wondered about this common disconnect. Did you know that there is compelling evidence to suggest that the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes increases with poor oral health? Besides, your lifestyle is significantly influenced when you have tooth pain, tooth loss, gum disease, or dentures.

Even if you don’t have dental insurance, cleanings and exams are one of the most economical ways to maintain proper oral health.

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT we are committed to the dental health of all our patients, and it’s a team effort. People from American Fork and Lehi come to us for cosmetic dentistry and the rest of their dental health needs. Call to schedule your next cleaning and checkup today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, our goal is preventing dental problems and keeping our patient’s smiles healthy and beautiful. We provide general and family dentistry at our dental practice.

Adult Dental Health

As a general and family dentistry practice, we have been treating patients of all ages since 1974.

We have noticed throughout the years is that many parents dismiss their own oral health. Though they vigilantly keep up with their children’s dental visits and cleanings, for some reason, they fail to pay the same attention to their own dental care needs.

How Do You Keep Your Smile Healthy Throughout Your Life?

Let’s talk about adult dental needs. Once you are past the cavity-prone childhood and adolescent years, gum health becomes critical.

Gum Disease is the #1 Cause of Tooth Loss in Adults

Did you know that 47% of U.S. adults have gum disease? In adults, periodontitis (advanced gum disease) is the most common cause of tooth loss. Fortunately, gum disease can be reversed if you catch it in its early stages.

Gingivitis

The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. The primary symptoms of gingivitis include red or swollen gums. If your gums hurt when brush or floss, it could be a sign. You may also notice unpleasant breath at times. (Others may notice it as well!) Gingivitis is oftentimes caused bacteria on the teeth and along the gum line. The most common treatment is increased brushing and flossing in addition to more frequent dentist appointments. It’s a good idea to visit your dentist every 3 months for deep cleanings and professional treatment. Your dentist may also prescribe a fluoride rinse.

Early Stage Periodontal Disease

When the infection spreads beneath your gums it allows the harmful bacteria to start attacking the bone holding your teeth in place. This may bring about redness and swelling of the gums, worsening breath and periodic bleeding. Early stage periodontal disease can’t be fully reversed, but your dentist can develop a treatment plan to prevent it from getting worse.

Moderate Periodontal Disease

At this stage, you are at risk of losing teeth. To treat it at this stage, your dentist will need to remove plaque from below the gum line (this same treatment may also be used with early stage periodontal disease) in order to help halt the infection. Since your gums are slowly detaching from your teeth at this stage, surgery can reshape your gums and close the pockets between your gums and teeth. With superb self-care and one of our savvy oral hygienists at your side, you can still save your teeth.

Advanced Periodontal Disease

The last stage of periodontitis requires extensive treatment. Your dentist may recommend surgery to prevent tooth loss. Flap surgery is common for this stage and involves cleaning the actual roots of your teeth by scrubbing behind your gums. Your dentist may also smooth or reshape your damaged bone to restrict bacteria from accumulating.

Why Do You Need Regular Dental Cleanings?

With twice-yearly dental exams and professional cleanings, you can prevent early stage gum disease from advancing to the dangerous stages. During professional dental deep cleanings, our hygienists thoroughly remove the plaque and tartar above and below the gumline. By scaling and planing, they smooth areas to make it more difficult for bacteria to accumulate.

Why Oral Cancer Screenings are Essential

During dental examinations at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we look for signs of oral cancer. Oral cancers are cancers in the tongue, mouth, lips, jaw, and throat. Many men and women don’t realize the seriousness of oral cancer.

Consider this unfortunate news from the Oral Cancer Foundation:

When found at early stages of development, oral cancers can have an 80 to 90% survival rate. Unfortunately at this time, the majority are found as late stage cancers, and this accounts for the very high death rate of about 43% at five years from diagnosis

When your dentist performs an oral cancer screening during your dental examination, he/she will look for red or white spots, bleeding, lumps, difficulty swallowing, loose teeth, any color changes, and mouth sores. Is is critical to tell your dentist if your bite has changed, if you have sores that won’t heal, and prolonged hoarseness. An earache in only one ear can also be an indicator.

Having any of these symptoms does not mean you have oral cancer, as they can be caused by other elements. However, if your dentist does something unusual, he/she may order additional tests or refer you to a medical doctor for further diagnosis and treatment if necessary.

We at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT value all aspects of your adult oral health. We serve patients from American Fork and Lehi and also perform extractions, implants, and cosmetic dentistry. Contact us for an appointment today.

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

Whether you are one of those who goes willingly to the dentist or are hesitant about getting work done, the team at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT wants you to make and keep regular appointments for cleanings and checkups.

Regular dental appointments are important because they help keep your teeth and gums healthy. For most patients, we recommend a visit to our office every six months. We occasionally need to see a patient more often.

Appointments, Parts 1 & 2

There are two parts to a typical dental appointment: a cleaning and a checkup.

• During a cleaning, one of our dental hygienists inspects your teeth and gums, and uses special tools to remove any plaque and tartar that have built up. It also includes polishing your teeth, which removes any surface stains. The last step is flossing.
• During a checkup, the dentist checks your overall dental health. If there are any issues, like a cavity or signs of gum disease, we’ll usually schedule a follow-up appointment. It will be planned for your convenience, of course, but sooner is better.

What you do between your six-month visits is really important. Plaque is constantly forming on the teeth, so we recommend – and we cannot say it strongly enough! – that you brush and floss your teeth every day. Ideally, you’ll do it twice.

You have a lot of toothpaste choices. The flavor is up to you, but be sure to choose one with fluoride.

By seeing us twice a year, and maintaining a good dental health regimen at home, you’ll have confidence that your teeth and gums are in great shape. At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. We serve satisfied patients in American Fork and Lehi.  Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

Are manual toothbrushes obsolete? Would you believe people have been asking that question for more than fifty years? At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we assure you that the answer is no. When it comes to maintaining your dental health, an old school manual toothbrush is one of your best friends.

“Wait a minute,” you might say, “isn’t an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush?”

That very question was addressed in the Journal of the American Dental Association, way back in 1964. Their article sensibly concluded that all toothbrushes, when used properly, are effective at removing food debris and plaque to keep your smile free of decay.

Use What Works

Electric toothbrushes are great, and they certainly have their place. But they do not do a better job cleaning teeth, simply because they’re electric. For most people, it comes down to personal preference. Manual and electric do a good job cleaning your teeth. An electric toothbrush can be a tremendous benefit to anyone with issues like arthritis. A manual may take a little longer. But they’re a lot cheaper!

At the end of the day, though, the choice is yours. When it comes to any toothbrush, the most important thing is to choose one with soft bristles. They are gentle on the gums, but still effective in brushing away plaque.

When all is said and done, the important thing is to find a toothbrush that works for you, and then use it. At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we stress the importance of brushing and flossing twice a day. People from American Fork and Lehi trust us with their dental health, and come to our office for general and cosmetic dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT, we don’t like providing the reality check; especially around the holidays. Everyone wants to think positively and enjoy their time, and that’s well and good. But we would be an ineffective dental team if we didn’t remind you to take extra care of your teeth this holiday season.

With dinners and parties just around the corner – or in the rearview – you’re bound to be facing some sticky or brittle food debris that is threatening to lodge itself in your gum-line. If this happens, and you don’t clean it off with proper brushing and flossing, you might be facing greater problems come January and February.

In the first few hours, the bacteria from this food will coat your teeth. However, this plaque is removable until it turns into tartar. Once it’s attached to your teeth, only a professional cleaning will be able to remove it.

If it’s not removed, it can contribute to conditions like gum disease, inflammation, and even tooth loss. Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo UT wants all our patients to avoid these and enjoy many holiday seasons for years to come. We offer general and cosmetic dentistry, and serve satisfied patients in American Fork and Lehi. Contact us today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604