Preventive Dentistry for Families Near Ormond Beach, FL

From the moment we begin developing teeth as young children, routine dental care and preventive exams and cleanings are essential. Not only can common dental problems like decay or gum disease seriously harm your oral health, they can also impact your total health and wellbeing. True preventive dentistry is designed to preserve both a patient’s good oral health and overall wellness.

At the Ormond Beach dental practice of Jennifer Fraser, D.M.D. we take preventive care seriously. We recommend that patients visit us at least twice a year for cleanings and exams. The purpose of these appointments is both to remove accumulated bacteria and plaque from teeth and gums and to diagnose any developing issues before they become serious.

Your First Appointment

Are you preparing to visit Dr. Fraser’s office for the first time? We look forward to serving you! While we take every visit seriously, first visits are especially important. Not only do they give us a chance to become acquainted with you, they also give us an opportunity to earn your trust with our friendliness, compassion, and professionalism. When you visit Dr. Fraser’s office, we believe you’ll come away from your appointment with a positive feeling about your experience.

Your first visit includes both a dental cleaning and a full oral exam by Dr. Fraser. We’ll also take X-rays of your mouth and even complete an oral cancer screening. We strive to be as thorough as possible during first appointments because we want to have a complete picture of your health.

If we need to recommend additional care, we promise to discuss every possible treatment solution with you, and we’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.

Periodontal Therapy

Because periodontal disease is one of the most common health problems, our office is committed to offering periodontal services like scaling and root planing as well as treatment with Arestin. With scaling and root planing, we help patients who are struggling with advanced periodontal disease remove bacterial plaque and tartar from below the gum line. Arestin, is a topical antibiotic that uses special microspheres to release powerful medication over a series of days, so it keeps working long after you leave our Ormond dental office.

Bruxism / Nightguards

Some patients struggle with a serious condition known as bruxism. This condition, which is strongly linked to stress, involves unconscious, habitual teeth grinding or jaw clenching, particularly during sleep. Over time, if this problem isn’t addressed, the grinding and clenching associated with bruxism can seriously harm the chewing surface of teeth, in addition to damaging the muscles in the jaw. More advanced consequences of bruxism may include insomnia, depression, and eating disorders.

Thankfully, bruxism can be managed with an oral appliance known as a nightguard. If you struggle with bruxism, you’ll simply slip your nightguard over your teeth before going to bed. As you sleep, your nightguard helps you control the grinding and clenching condition. Some patients stop grinding their teeth completely as a result of wearing a nightguard, while others will primarily see a reduction in their symptoms, which may include frequent headaches or earaches.

Pediatrics

Does your child see a dentist for regular checkups and cleanings? If they don’t, they should. Children are just as vulnerable to common oral health problems as adults, if not more so. Which is why our Ormond Beach dental office is happy to treat both adults and children. Our goal is to help your child create and maintain a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. Call our office if you’d like to schedule a checkup and cleaning for your little one.

DIAGNOdent

Tooth decay is one of the most common of all oral health problems. Any spot of decay should be removed as early as possible to prevent it from spreading and seriously harming the health and structural integrity of the tooth. Unfortunately, most young cavities are impossible, or nearly impossible, to see with just a visual exam. As a result, many cavities aren’t treated until they’re more developed. By this stage, the treatment process is more involved, and greater changes to your tooth are required.

With a tool known as DIAGNOdent, it’s possible to diagnose a cavity well before this point. DIAGNOdent works using a handheld wand and special wavelength of light to highlight areas of decay while they’re still very small and otherwise hard to see. Diagnosing these trouble spots early enables Dr. Fraser to treat them early, preventing the need for more advanced changes to your tooth.

Digital Imaging and Intraoral Cameras

In addition to using DIAGNOdent to help patients diagnose decay, we also have advanced tools like digital radiography and intraoral cameras. Both imaging techniques are helpful for diagnosing problems and explaining treatment solutions. With digital radiography, we can capture clear, detailed X-ray images while exposing patients to 90% less radiation than we would with traditional radiography. An intraoral camera lets our Ormond dental team show patients a video image of their mouth during treatment so they can have a full understanding of their oral health needs.