Preventive Dentistry

At Gentle Hands Dental Care, we focus on prevention because it is the key to a healthy, attractive, problem-free smile. It’s not complicated; brush twice a day, floss once, and maintain a routine of dental exams and cleanings at least twice a year at our Hamilton, NJ dental office.

You’ve heard all this before, but don’t underestimate the positive impact these simple steps can have on your oral health. You’ll experience fewer problems, which results in less discomfort and fewer trips to your dentist for treatments can put an unexpected dent in your budget.

How Preventive Dentistry Works

Prevention for your oral health has the same benefits that maintenance for your auto does. You need reliable transportation, so you keep your gas tank filled and get routine oil changes and services as needed. 

Likewise, you need strong, healthy teeth that function reliably, which is why your dentist recommends preventive dental exams and cleanings every six months. This “routine maintenance” for your smile helps keep your teeth and gums healthy and allows Dr. Van Natta to catch problems before they damage your oral health.

Comprehensive Dental Examinations

Seeing us every six months for dental exams allows Dr. Rae Van Natta to periodically check in on your oral health and look for conditions like cavities and gum disease or gingivitis. She will examine each of your teeth, note any changes since your last visit, and look for signs of gingivitis, including:

• Bleeding gums
• Swollen gums
• Inflamed gums
• Gum recession
• Loose teeth
• Bad breath 

If Dr. Van Natta detects an issue, she will recommend the appropriate dental treatment to get your oral health back on track. Tooth-colored fillings look natural and restore decayed teeth, and personalized periodontal treatment will get rid of gum disease. 

With digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, you’ll never be in the dark about what’s happening with your oral health, either. Dr. Van Natta can share the resulting images with you, so you see what we see when we look in your mouth.

Teeth Cleanings Every Six Months

Your six-month hygiene appointments go hand-in-hand with dental exams. No matter how well you brush and floss, there are spots between teeth and under your gums that your brush doesn’t reach. If you have healthy teeth and gums, Dr. Van Natta would recommend dental cleanings every six months; if you have gum disease or any other ongoing oral health conditions, you may need three or four cleanings a year.

Dr. Van Natta performs your teeth cleaning using specialized instruments that gently clear away hardened plaque called tartar from these hard-to-reach places. If we don’t remove bacteria-filled tartar periodically during a dental cleaning at Gentle Hands Dental Care, you’re at much higher risk for cavities and gum disease.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body

Gum disease affects your mouth but can also impact just about every other bodily system. Your mouth is the gateway to your body, and researchers have established a direct connection between the two. 

Untreated gum disease contributes to conditions like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and arthritis, but it also affects younger people. Ongoing periodontal disease can affect your ability to conceive and also cause pregnancy complications like premature births and low birthweight babies. 

Schedule Your Next Dental Exam and Cleaning

Dr. Van Natta has worked hard to create a calm and relaxing environment for her patients to put them at ease and help them feel comfortable when seeking dental care. Please call our Hamilton, NJ dental office to schedule your next exam and teeth cleaning.