Dental Cleanings & Prevention in Wenatchee, WA

Smiles endure a lot. When it comes to oral health, the state of teeth and gums often gets overlooked until problems such as dental pain and irritated gums arise. Seeking professional treatment for oral health issues can not only help protect your smile now and for the future, but it can restore your overall health and happiness as well.

At Gundersen Dental, we provide the preventive dentistry you and your family deserve to maintain a healthy mouth and body. Through first-rate dental cleanings, examinations, patient education, oral cancer screenings, and more, you can count on Tyler and Broc Gunderson’s passion and skill to protect your smile for many years to come. Contact our Wenatchee dental office today to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one!

CALL US: (509) 398-8911 REQUEST APPOINTMENT

Understanding Why Preventive Dental Care is Important

A proper at-home hygiene regimen is the first line of defense against tooth decay and gum disease. Regular flossing and brushing prevent plaque buildup that can cause bacterial infections and tooth decay. 

Routine checkups with our dentists usually include cleanings which target the hard-to-reach places in your smile that remain untouched even with daily brushing. Preventive dentistry services can also effectively detect oral health concerns in their early stages, allowing us to treat them before they become a threat to your smile. 

Your oral health has a widespread impact on your health overall. For example, individuals with periodontal (gum) disease are more susceptible to other infections, diseases, and developing certain cancers. This is because there is a strong connection between oral and whole-body health. Infections that begin in the mouth can spread to other areas of the body, causing complications with the heart, diabetes, or pregnancy if not addressed properly.

What Dental Services are Considered Preventive?

• Dental Cleanings & Examinations, which involve us gently evaluating your smile’s current oral health. We check everything from your teeth to gums, tongue, and neck, looking for signs of developing concerns. During cleanings, we utilize special tools to remove dental plaque and tartar from your teeth.
• Digital X -Rays, which allows our dentist to detect potential threats to your smile that are otherwise untraceable to the naked eye.
• Sleep Apnea Diagnosis & Treatment, in which our dentists specialize. Drs. Tyler and Broc Gundersen perform thorough consultations, examinations, diagnosis, and appliance treatment for sleep disorders.
• Dental Implants for replacing one to all missing teeth in your smile. Both of our dentists can place and restore dental implants at our Wenatchee office.
• Root Canal Therapy for when dental infection jeopardizes the structure and health of your tooth. RCT is performed by our dentists for saving as much of your natural tooth as possible and reducing the need for possible extraction.
• Dental Lasers for preparing teeth and gums for other treatments, and for reshaping gum tissues, biopsies, excising oral tumors, cysts removal, frenectomies, and much more!
• Periodontal (Gum) Treatment, which often involves deep cleanings to remove bacteria and plaque from beneath the gum line. We provide an accurate diagnosis as well as continued maintenance for more advanced levels of gum disease.
• Invisalign® Clear Aligners are an alternative to traditional orthodontics and use a series of virtually-invisible trays to straighten your smile comfortably and discreetly.
• Sealants & Fluoride Treatments for helping to protect and strengthen teeth that are more vulnerable to cavities and decay.
• Patient Education, which includes taking the time to inform all patients about the importance of oral health and how closely the mouth and body are connected.

When Should Dental Prevention Start?

While preventive dentistry can begin as young as infancy, children, teens, adults, and seniors can all practice and benefit from preventive dental care. The more you stay diligent with your dental visits every six months, the greater your understanding of oral health and hygiene becomes.

For young children, we recommend for you to bring them into our office for their first visit as soon as their first tooth erupts. Our dentists will teach you how to take care of your child’s teeth. Your child will also learn how to care for their teeth as they get older.

Why is Preventive Dentistry Important for Children?

Preventive dental care safeguards your child’s healthy smile. Children with healthy teeth and gums chew more easily and can digest more nutrients from the foods they eat. Strong and healthy teeth also help them speak clearer and more confidently.

Sleep Apnea: What is it & Should I Get Help?

Sleep apnea is a common but serious disorder that causes you to stop breathing repeatedly while you sleep. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Obstructive sleep apnea involves the soft tissues collapsing to the back of the throat, blocking your airways countless times during the night. This prevents oxygen from reaching your lungs and brain. 

Sleep apnea can cause you to have a disrupted sleeping pattern, preventing you from getting the deep, restful sleep your body needs. People who suffer from this condition typically wake up tired and lethargic. If left untreated, sleep apnea can negatively impact your mental and physical health.

How We Provide Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Both Drs. Tyler and Broc Gundersen specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. They coordinate with your doctor in addressing your sleep apnea case. After diagnosis, an appointment with our dentists can help you learn about the treatment options available to you. Our sleep apnea specialists will then work with you to recommend the right wearable oral appliances to help treat your condition.

Dental sleep devices are the most commonly used oral appliances in the treatment of sleep apnea. These devices are similar to mouth guards and are designed to push your lower jaw forward. This keeps the muscles at the back of the throat from collapsing, so your airway stays open as you sleep.

Your dentists examine your teeth, mouth, and temporomandibular joints to determine if you are a good candidate for devices like the TAP 3® (Thornton Adjustable Positioner). This two-piece device with interchangeable hooks allows for a better bite while also providing adjustments for maximum comfort and effectiveness.

Tongue-retaining devices are other options that could also work for you. These oral devices are designed to hold your tongue in a forward position, keeping your airway open.

Throughout treatment, our dentists will monitor you closely to make sure that the oral device is working effectively and fits you well. Oral devices are an effective option for the treatment of sleep apnea.

Diagnosing and Catching Oral Health Concerns with Digital X-Rays

Dental x-rays are powerful diagnostic tools that are faster, safer, and more comfortable now than ever before. Digital X-rays are one of the most advanced dental technologies in our office. They produce high-quality images that can be viewed in real-time by you and our dental team on an LCD monitor. Digital X-rays also reduce your exposure to radiation and provide excellent diagnostic information to ensure that all problems are detected in their early stages.

Protecting Your Smile with Dental Examinations

One of the most prominent aspects to achieving a healthy smile is routine dental examinations. Professional oral exams are designed to evaluate your health and look for signs of existing or potential health problems. Regular dental exams ensure that issues are identified and treated at an early stage. This is not only good for your health but also helps prevent the need for more complex and expensive treatment.

Dental Cleanings for Cleaner, Healthier Teeth

Even with diligent brushing and flossing at home, plaque and tartar still build up on your teeth. Professional teeth cleanings are an extremely effective way of getting rid of these pesky substances before they cause more severe teeth and gum problems. By utilizing advances in dental technology and tools, we can better ensure more effective teeth cleanings.

Dental cleanings with laser technology are more effective alternatives to traditional teeth cleanings when your needs are more advanced. Laser teeth cleanings remove plaque, tartar, and eliminate harmful bacteria by using high-frequency sound waves and ultrasonic scalers. Many of our patients prefer laser teeth cleaning since its often quicker, quieter, and virtually pain-free.

Deep cleanings, also known as tooth scaling and root planing, may be necessary if you have excessive plaque buildup below the gum line. Deep cleanings are an effective way to help treat gum disease in its early stages. This is a two-part process; stubborn plaque and tartar are removed, followed by smoothing the root surfaces.

Oral Cancer Screenings to Help Safeguard Oral & Overall Health

Current technology in oral cancer screening enables us to see the abnormal cells that would otherwise be undetectable during routine exams. It is recommended that you have a regular oral cancer screening at least once every six months.

Strengthening Teeth with Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is a mineral that is easily absorbed into tooth enamel, especially in growing children. Fluoride strengthens the tooth structure, making it more resistant to decay. It also helps remineralize teeth, further lessening your child’s chances of developing decay. There are two forms of fluoride that are used in preventive dentistry. Topical fluorides include toothpastes, rinses, varnishes, foams, and gels. Systemic fluorides are ingested and play a critical role in the formation of tooth structures.

Saving Teeth with Root Canal Therapy

If you have an infection that causes damage to the pulp of your tooth, our dentists may recommend a root canal procedure to save your tooth. This treatment involves accessing and removing the infected pulp inside your tooth. Then, the chamber and root canals are disinfected, filled with antibacterial material, and protected with a custom crown.

What Preventive Steps Can I Take to Help Protect My Smile?

Preventive dental care should start with you. Developing healthy oral health habits from childhood helps prevent teeth and gum complications.

Here are a few basics:

• Brush your teeth at least two times a day. This is usually in the morning and at night. Our team can recommend the best toothpaste and toothbrush for you.
• Floss daily to remove any food particles stuck between your teeth.
• Avoid acidic foods that can damage tooth enamel.
• Be extra cautious with hard foods like seeds, candy, and hard frozen treats since they can damage or chip your teeth.
• Avoid smoking or using tobacco products as they cause teeth and gum problems and can even lead to cancer.
• Invest in a mouth-guard if you grind your teeth or play contact sports.
• Keep up with your dental visits every six months for routine care.

Protect Your Oral Health and Overall Well-Being Today!

Oral health is linked to your overall health and general well-being. Preventive dental care helps with the detection and prevention of oral diseases that not only affect your health but also your speech, eating, and self-esteem. Contact Drs. Tyler and Broc Gundersen and our Wenatchee office to schedule your preventive dentistry appointment today!

CALL US: (509) 398-8911 REQUEST APPOINTMENT

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