Preventive Dentistry in Lovell
Keeps Your Smile Shining
Did you know that dentistry is designed to be preventive? Unlike the field of medicine where doctors and nurses mostly respond to existing illness or disease, dentists and their staffs work to prevent dental troubles before they even have a chance to start. At Lovell Dental, Dr. Anderson and our team do exactly that with preventive dentistry so they can help our patients have healthier and brighter smiles.
Checkups & Cleanings
Dental Sealants
The back teeth (known as the molars and premolars) have chewing surfaces that are filled with grooves, pits, and crevices. While these make them excellent for breaking down food, they also make these teeth particularly susceptible to developing cavities. These uneven surfaces are prone to trap plaque and food particles that are very difficult to clean while brushing, especially for young children. However, we can give your smile a little extra protection right where you need it using something called a dental sealant.
A dental sealant is a clear, thin layer of a plastic-based substance that we can paint directly onto the teeth at the end of standard checkup and cleaning appointment. A sealant will smooth out the surface of a tooth and create a physical barrier that plaque, food particles, and acids cannot penetrate, effectively blocking cavities. They only take minutes to apply and can last for years with routine oral hygiene.
Mouthguards
Along with a helmet and pads or shin guards, a custom-fitted mouthguard should be an essential piece of protection for athletes of all ages and levels of play. One of the most common causes of dental emergencies is a sports injury, but a mouthguard can provide unbeatable protection against chipped teeth, broken teeth, knocked out teeth, and even lacerations to the gums or tongue. The same equipment can also protect the smile from bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding. Need to guard your smile? Dr. Lance Anderson is the dentist in Lovell that can provide customized mouthguards for patients of all ages in just one visit to our office.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer is an often fatal disease that is very treatable when detected earlier, which is exactly why the American Cancer Society recommends that everyone should have at least one oral cancer screening per year. Dr. Anderson can perform one as part of your regular checkup where he’ll examine your lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, neck, throat, and face for any signs of the disease. It only takes a few minutes, but it could literally be the few minutes that saves your life.
Periodontal Therapy
Periodontal therapy is a collection of treatments specifically designed to help patients dealing with gum disease. Gum disease is an infection of the gums and bone that support the teeth, and it’s actually the most common disease in the entire world. Left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss and even increase a person’s chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke. We’ll always keep an eye on your gums whenever you come to see us, and we’ll act quickly if we spot any problems.
Learn More About Periodontal Therapy
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is a natural mineral found in many foods that has been shown to help strengthen the teeth against tooth decay and cavities. When exposed to the teeth, it actually replaces the minerals that have been stripped away by the plaque, bacteria, and acids that our teeth encounter every day. This is why you’ll see fluoride added to most toothpastes as well as public water sources. Unfortunately, due to the rise in popularity of non-fluoridated bottled water, many people are now missing out on fluoride, leaving their teeth more vulnerable to develop problems.
This is why your dentist at Lovell Dental is happy to provide a professional fluoride treatment for you and your family at your regular checkups. Whether it involves wearing a mouth tray filled with a highly-concentrated fluoride gel or taking an oral supplement, it’s always a quick and easy way to keep everyone’s smiles strong between appointments.
At-Home Hygiene Products
As great as our team might be, the fact is that 99% of your dental care actually occurs at home between appointments. Consistent brushing and flossing are critical to maintaining your oral health, which means the products you use are extremely important. There is a seemingly endless variety of dental products out there, so if you need a little help figuring out which ones are best for you, just ask our team, and we’ll be happy to give you our recommendation. In fact, we can provide you with many of these products right here in our office, including many that you won’t find on store shelves, such as prescription strength toothpastes and mouthwashes.
Emergency Dentistry
By definition, emergencies always happen suddenly and unexpectedly. They can be frightening, flustering, and cause tremendous anxiety. Despite all of this, you can still be prepared for an emergency. In the case of a dental emergency, the key to being prepared is to have a dentist who is ready, willing and able to do whatever is necessary to help you or a loved one in your time of need. Dr. Lance Anderson is that dentist for Lovell families.
Learn More About Emergency Dentistry
Children's Dentistry
A child’s dental needs are much different than that of a teenager or adult, mostly in the case that their teeth are much more susceptible to developing cavities because their enamel has not fully hardened yet. In order to keep your child’s smile safe during these formative years, it’s absolutely essential that you bring them to the dentist. Early age dental appointments will allow Dr. Anderson to make sure their smile is developing correctly, address any problems before they can become serious, and intercept any issues that may occur in the future.
Dr. Anderson is a father of five children, so he understands better than most the necessity for high-quality pediatric dental care. Of course, when it comes to children, clinical skill isn’t enough. Dr. Anderson and the rest of our team always go out of our way to make sure our youngest patients have calm, cool, and dare we say, fun appointments.