Why is your oral health so important? Teeth and gums that are free of dental disease create comfortable and beautiful smiles and can also provide a strong foundation for overall wellness. Patients who routinely visit us for perventive dentistry at our Kingwood dental office help protect their bodies from serious illnesses and also gain confidence with a smile that makes a great first impression.
Recent studies have confirmed what Dr. Mosby and Dr. Caldwell have known for some time—that a healthy mouth equals a healthy body. Gum disease and cavities are infections that occur inside the mouth. If left untreated, the bacteria associated with these problems can enter the bloodstream and attack the heart, brain, and other vital organs. By maintaining routine general dentistry visits at our Kingwood dental office, Dr. Mosby can keep dental disease in check and reduce your risk for more serious health problems.
Your routine preventive appointment will include digital X-rays, a periodontal evaluation, a bite assessment, and an oral cancer screening. Together, these services ensure that any minor problems with your teeth, gums, or bite are caught early and treated quickly before they can cause any major damage. You’ll also receive a meticulous cleaning from a hygienist, which will remove tartar from those hard-to-reach corners of your mouth, eliminating the root cause of cavities and gum disease while helping your teeth feel porcelain smooth.
Adults and children with fissures and grooves that are hard to clean can also have trouble brushing effectively. To protect teeth, Dr. Mosby and Dr. Caldwell often suggest dental sealants from our dental office. Made of a thin, plastic coating that Dr. Mosby, Dr. Caldwell or one or our hygienists paint onto the teeth, dental sealants create a physical barrier against small food particles and cavity-causing bacteria.. This prevents tooth surface decay, commonly known as cavities, and reduces the need for restorative dentistry measures such as fillings and crowns.
We all deserve to get a good night’s sleep, but for some people, daily stress actually follows them to bed, causing them to clench and grind their teeth while they slumber. This can wear down the teeth, make them look short and dull, and eventually break them altogether. With a simple nightguard, however, Dr. Mosby or Dr. Caldwell can stop this from happening. Worn to bed, this small oral appliance fits comfortably over the teeth and prevents any harmful contact between the upper and lower rows, preserving a patient’s smile and improving their rest.
Learn More About Teeth Grinding
Each year, an estimated 30,000 American adults receive an oral cancer diagnosis, and of those, 7500 don't survive more than five years. Because Dr. Mosby or Dr. Caldwell may notice suspicious tissue changes before you do, we regularly perform oral cancer screenings on our patients.
Fluoride is a mineral that has been added to toothpaste and tap water for decades, and that’s because it actually strengthens the enamel upon contact and makes it more resistant to developing decay. In addition to using a fluoridated toothpaste at home, Dr. Mosby and Dr. Caldwell also recommend that patients of all ages receive a topical fluoride treatment at their routine checkups. A concentrated gel is applied to the teeth for a minute or so, and this quickly gives a patient a powerful boost of cavity protection that will last until their next visit.
There is a nearly endless variety of oral healthcare products available on store shelves today, and many make promises on their packaging that they simply can’t deliver. At Kingwood Family Dentistry, however, we’re happy to recommend and provide a number of products that are not only proven to be effective but are somewhat difficult to find as well. We’re able to offer prescription strength toothpaste, treatments for dry mouth, and even a mouthwash made with essential oils for patients who want to add a more holistic product to their oral hygiene routine.