One-third of American adults don’t even see a dentist once a year, so their problems build up until a lot of damage has to be repaired (periodontal or gum disease is painless even in advanced stages). Preventive dentistry can help you avoid the pain and expense of having to restore good oral health. Downtown Los Angeles dentist Kourosh Yousefzadeh, D.D.S. (Dr. K) would prefer to see patients for semi-annual oral health check-ups.
Ideally, everyone should adequately brush and floss to keep both teeth and gums in perfect health. Our experienced hygienists will teach patients the correct brushing and flossing techniques to prevent cavities and gum diseases. Everyone needs to have professional teeth cleaning at least three times a year to prevent periodontal gum disease, which can cause teeth to fall out and raise your risk for diabetes, heart disease, or some cancers. Our highly-trained hygienists can provide regular cleaning using specialized hand tools and the Piezoelectric device to remove the plaque (the hardened film left by food and drink) while minimizing damage to the teeth structure.
Our highly-trained hygienists can provide regular cleaning using specialized hand tools and the Piezoelectric device to remove the plaque (the hardened film left by food and drink) while minimizing damage to the teeth structure. If there is gum disease, the hygienists will need to do a painless deep cleaning. They will first use hand tools to scrape and plane the teeth. A soft tissue laser is then utilized to reduce the bacteria while helping the gums to heal. They may also recommend that Arestin antimicrobial pellets be inserted to release the medicine gradually.
If these techniques are not effective in preventing further infection, our periodontist may need to do periodontal surgery (see our discussion under Periodontal Gum Surgery). In the meantime between your professional hygiene visits, the most critical practice for optimum oral health is to brush for two minutes twice a day and floss once. Twice a day, use a soft bristle toothbrush or, even better, an electric one (hard bristles can wear down the gums).
Also, you can use an over-the-counter periodontal mouthwash with the ingredient cetyl pyridinium or a unique formula prescribed by “Dr. K” for your particular needs. If you have not had an oral hygiene examination in the past four months, including dental x-rays which can show how healthy the roots of your teeth are and your jawbone, give Smile L.A.
Downtown Los Angeles Modern Dentistry a call to set a no-obligation appointment: +1 213-DENTIST (336 8478). We are located in a beautifully restored historic building near the new Pershing Square convenient to bus lines and Metro stations (we validate for parking in the building; check directions at www.SmileLA.com).
