Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dental care is designed to help patients avoid severe oral health conditions from developing over time. Treating dental problems in their early stages is essential for your oral health. Without an effective treatment plan, a small problem could become a serious issue requiring expensive or invasive treatments down the road. Our preventive services at 32ology Dental Studio promote healthy oral hygiene habits, treat early symptoms of oral health problems, and help to prevent new diseases.

Professional and at-home preventive dental care significantly reduces the risk of oral health conditions like cavities, receding gums due to gum disease, and tooth loss. With our state-of-the-art equipment and dental expertise, we can also detect early signs of abnormal tooth wear and sensitivity. Our Tarzana dentist, Dr. Argina Kudaverdian, creates customized treatment plans to address problems as they arise.

At 32ology Dental Studio, we aim to protect your smile from damaging dental conditions like gum disease and tooth decay. We provide the following services to help you achieve a healthy smile:

Exams & X-Rays

A comprehensive dental exam is a thorough assessment of your teeth and gums. This is essential for your oral health because it helps identify problems in their early stages. Without a dental checkup, problems like cavities or gingivitis could develop into more serious issues like tooth decay and periodontitis. During routine exams, our team uses the latest industry technology and equipment to evaluate our patients’ oral health and provide the necessary dental treatment to keep them smiling brightly.

At 32ology Dental Studio, we use a combination of visual examinations and diagnostic oral X-rays to detect problems like:

• Oral cancer
• Tooth decay
• Cavities
• Jawbone loss
• Tumors
• Gum disease

To begin your exam, our team will need to learn about your medical history. You might answer questions relating to current medical treatments for any health problem you have, including medications. Other common questions for medical history intake include details about any allergies you have, previous dental procedures, and past surgeries. We may also need to know about some of your habits that could influence your dental treatment. For instance, you may answer questions about smoking and drinking. All the information you provide helps our team create an effective treatment plan.

During the visual component of the exam, our team will thoroughly examine your mouth. They may use tools to examine your entire mouth, including your gums and the fronts and backs of your teeth. However, they can only view the deep areas of your teeth and jawbone through digital imaging, like an X-ray.

The visual examination and X-rays help us detect early signs of oral and dental problems, including those that aren’t obvious with a visual inspection. We also conduct an oral cancer screening during our dental exams to help our patients get an early diagnosis and immediate treatment if necessary.

We recommend calling us for a dental exam every six months, which is the general guideline for oral checkups. However, depending on your oral health needs and treatment, we may recommend a customized dental care plan.

Fluoride Treatments

To help protect your tooth enamel and fight cavities, you can opt to undergo fluoride treatments. This is an especially common treatment for children. Dental fluoride may come in the form of a foam, gel, or concentrated rinse, which is completed during your routine dental appointment.

If a fluoride treatment was performed on your teeth, avoid eating for 30 minutes after your dental cleaning. This gives the fluoride time to seal and protect your teeth. Aside from that, simply continue brushing and flossing normally.

Periodontics & Gum Disease

Periodontal treatments address the area around the teeth, such as the gum tissue and jawbone. During your routine exam, our team will evaluate your gum and bone health, monitoring for any signs of gum disease. By practicing good oral hygiene and attending regular dental visits, you should be able to maintain good periodontal health. Without this regular care, bacteria buildup can lead to a variety of concerns.

Bacteria lives in our mouths and if not removed daily through proper brushing and flossing, can cause decay, gum disease, and bone disease. Bacteria can also cause bad breath. Healthy gums are firm and pink in appearance, and do not bleed when brushing or flossing. The bone and ligaments around the roots of the teeth are strong, and the teeth are free from decay.

Plaque is a sticky substance that accumulates on the teeth, especially around the gum line. Plaque contains bacteria which can not only cause dental decay, but is harmful to the gums and bone around the teeth.

Gum Disease Evaluation

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal (gum) disease and is generally caused by inadequate oral hygiene. The gums become inflamed, are red in appearance, and bleed easily. The bone is not affected, and as such, gingivitis can be reversed with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits. If untreated however, gingivitis can lead to more advanced stages of periodontal disease and bone loss.

By putting a dental probe next to your tooth beneath your gum line, your dentist measures the depth of the pocket that forms between your gums and teeth. The pocket depth in a healthy mouth typically ranges between one and three millimeters. Pockets four millimeters or deeper may indicate gum disease.

Periodontal Cleanings

Periodontal maintenance is similar to routine dental cleaning, but instead of being a preventive treatment, periodontal cleanings address specific oral health issues. Periodontal cleanings are deep cleanings that patients often receive every three or four months to improve oral health.

Similar to regular dental cleaning, our team will floss and brush your teeth while removing stubborn plaque and tartar. However, periodontal maintenance can also include scaling and root planing, which is when your dental hygienist cleans deep into the gum line to eliminate gingivitis, tooth decay, and other issues.

How Should I Practice Good Oral Hygiene?

Brush Your Teeth

Preventive dental care begins with you. Here is what you can do to maintain excellent oral health.You should brush your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes each time. Brushing your teeth with an American Dental Association-approved fluoride toothpaste will help remove food particles and plaque caused by oral bacteria from your teeth and gums. It is an essential step for reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Floss Correctly

Besides brushing daily, you should also floss between your teeth every day. Unfortunately, many people neglect this step in preventive dentistry or floss the wrong way. However, it removes oral debris in places your toothbrush can’t reach, like the spaces between your teeth.

The correct way to floss is to hold the material tightly between your thumb and forefinger and gently rub it in the spaces between your teeth. When you reach the gum line, curve the floss against a tooth, making a C shape. Drag the curved bit of floss over the tooth to dislodge debris between the tooth and gum tissue.

Schedule Your Preventive Dentistry Appointment

Are you due for your routine dental exam and cleaning? Call 32ology Dental Studio to book your appointment! Our team can help you maintain good oral health and identify early signs of trouble. We will use the findings of your dental exam to create your dental treatment plan to keep your teeth and gums healthy.