Preventive Dentistry in Green Hills
Prevention is the key to maintaining healthy smiles. As the famous saying goes – “The best defense is a good offense.” By protecting teeth from potential damage with regular preventive checkups and at-home hygiene, patients are more likely to keep their naturally healthy smiles for life. At Green Hills Dental Center, our goal is to work in partnership with patients in order to achieve and maintain the optimal level of oral health at any age or stage of dental development. Preventive dentistry includes regular checkups at our office, professional teeth cleanings, and a variety of other treatments that keep smiles whole and healthy. We welcome patients from Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, and surrounding neighborhoods to visit us.
Your First Visit to Green Hills Dental Center
If you’re ready to schedule your first visit with our team, we welcome you to our family, and look forward to seeing your smile in our Green Hills office soon! From the moment you walk through the doors, you’ll know you’re experiencing a different dental practice. From the relaxing glass of wine we offer while you wait to our friendly, attentive staff, we love providing every patient a unique and unparalleled dentistry experience. We take time to carefully complete new patient information and medical and dental histories. Then, we utilize state-of-the-art digital x-ray technology to give us a picture of the internal and external structures of your smile. Next, we provide a thorough tooth by tooth examination and screenings for tooth decay, gum disease, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and oral cancer. One of our skilled hygienists thoroughly cleans even the hardest reach parts of your smile. Finally, our doctor takes the time to discuss your current oral health, smile goals, and create a custom treatment plan as unique as your smile.
Oral Hygiene & Professional Dental Cleanings
We love seeing our patients twice a year, and our knowledgeable dental hygienists offer thorough professional cleanings that remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from the places regular brushing and flossing may miss. However, the other 363 days of the year, oral hygiene is up to you! That doesn’t mean we’re not here to help you make the most of your at-home tooth brushing and flossing routines. Our team is happy to demonstrate proper care methods, answer your questions, and make product recommendations. If you have concerns between appointments, don’t wait six months for your next visit. Give us a call! We’re happy to help when you need us.
Mouthguards for Teeth Grinding
If you suffer from bruxism, unconscious teeth grinding and clenching, you likely know just how much damage this seemingly innocuous habit causes – chips, cracks, jaw pain, and even tooth loss. In most cases, patients experience this issue while they are asleep making it difficult to stop grinding and clenching teeth without help. We offer comfortable, custom mouthguards, often referred to as nightguards, to protect teeth from unconscious teeth grinding and clenching. Worn during sleep, these guards separate the teeth preventing potential damage.
Periodontal Therapy
More than 50% of US adults over 30 suffer from some level of periodontal (gum) disease, and periodontitis (advanced gum disease) is the leading cause of tooth loss for the same demographic. That’s why regular preventive screenings and periodontal charting are part of every six month checkup at our office. For those patients who develop periodontal disease, we offer a number of treatment options including:
- Non-surgical gum therapy
- More frequent professional teeth cleaning
- Laser gum decontamination
- Scaling – the removal of plaque, bacteria, and infected gum tissue
- Root planing – the smoothing of the root surfaces to prevent future buildup
- Antibiotics to prevent infection and the spread of bacteria
Pediatric Dental Care
We love working with little smiles. We may recommend dental sealants to protect developing smiles. Sealants are a clear, plastic coating applied to the surfaces of teeth where bacteria are most likely to buildup leading to decay. A liquid sealant is painted onto the surfaces of teeth and hardened in place. Sealants protect little smiles for as much as 10 years.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Each year, thousands of people lose their lives to oral cancer. Affecting individuals of all ages, both men and women, the only way to beat it is with early detection. Oral cancer screenings are part of our preventive dentistry services. As part of your checkup, Dr. Kirby will perform a thorough examination, looking for any signs that may be difficult to spot to the untrained eye. The sooner any abnormalities are caught, the greater the chances for successful treatment.