If you missed the first article which we posted a few weeks back, you can read it here.
The first article in this series covered dental health self-care. i.e. daily self-maintenance, which includes brushing, flossing and rinsing, along with some special tips for taking care of your mouth and teeth.
This article addresses the importance of routine cleanings by a professional … your dentistry. Our routine exams are head and shoulders above the rest. Why is this so?
You will meet with one of our registered dental hygienists who are very gentle, skilled, experienced, and who are well-trained to pay attention to detail. Our routine maintenance procedure is not your simple five-minute buff job. You need to set aside a good hour or so for us to take care of you.
Our practices use Pearl Computer Vision Technology and take high-resolution photos of your teeth and mouth. These images highlight areas of our concern for both immediate and potential future issues which need to be addressed, and are shown and reviewed with our patients. Here’s a detailed article about Pearl.
Besides the obvious dental services which we offer, one of our responsibilities is to educate our patients about their dental care. In the long run, our goal is to build confidence and trust, and show that we have a patient’s best interests at heart.
The routine cleanings are recommended for every six months as it is important for us to do a thorough cleaning and evaluate any changes to your teeth, mouth and gums on a regular basis. When we catch dental issues in the early stages, we can save our patients time, money and a great deal of pain and suffering.
Many people don’t realize that the cost of the routine preventative service is generally covered by most insurance plans. And, if we discover that a patient needs some form of restorative treatment, our staff are experts in trying to obtain the maximum benefits from their insurance provider.
Typically, we like to schedule your next dental check up before you leave the office so it’s logged into our system. You will receive a reminder by text a few days before, so you won’t forget your appointment.
When you come in for a routine exam, there are several steps in the process:
Discussion with you about any dental concerns. This is an opportunity to share with our staff any dental concerns you may have, or any dental changes you sense you have undergone. While we utilize visual examination and sophisticated technology to evaluate your dental condition, it is important for you to share your own observations, which may even include minor pain when chewing, and so on.
A visual examination of your teeth and mouth. Our hygienists, and dentists, visually explore your mouth and look for any abnormalities which may need addressing. We can discover the beginnings of gum disease by viewing the health of your gums. If we notice an abnormality which can lead to further dental and physical problems, we will recommend ways to remedy the problem.
We take a series of digital x-rays. With our sophisticated technology, we can identify problems with your teeth long before they become visually apparent and recommend treatment to prevent the issue/s becoming much more difficult and costly to treat. Read all about the technology we use here.
If you have been a patient with us, we are able to compare the results of this exam with previous exams as we look for changes to your teeth over time.
We clean your teeth ... ... by scaling with an ultrasonic hand instrument to remove plaque and tartar build up. We also employ other hand tools to scape away little gems that the ultrasonic tool didn’t remove. We also use an antibacterial mouthwash solution to disinfect the teeth.
The next to last step is polish your teeth ... ... which helps return your teeth to a normal color. If your teeth are really stained, we may recommend that you return for a professional teeth whitening which works much better than OTC solutions from your store or pharmacy. We also can send you home with a kit for self-maintenance. Read more about teeth whitening here.
Optionally ... ... We also recommend that we finish things up by applying a fluoride solution to your teeth which can help prevent decay.
Once the hygienist finishes the cleaning process, the details of his or her findings will be reviewed with one of our dentists who may recommend remedial procedures based on what we have learned in this appointment, and any major changes we find to your dental condition.
Again, if you have insurance, your costs of a routine exam are likely to be covered. If they are not, or if you don’t have insurance, the cost is only $195 for the service.
We also will send you home with a $100 gift card which can be used by a friend, relative or associate towards the cost of a complete dental cleaning, exam, x-rays, consultation and evaluation which means their cost would be only $95. This gift card used for the routine dental exam cannot be used with insurance.
However, as an existing patient, you may use it to apply to your portion of the costs of a major treatment plan which exceeds $1,000.
It very well may be that you know someone who is looking for or needs a good dentistry. Our gift cards and referral programs are a way of saying thank you and a win-win for everyone.
Again, we can’t stress the importance of:
Self-care.
Not putting off having a routine cleaning and exam every 6 months.
Think of it this way. The mouth is not like a vehicle with a warning light when it needs service. As you know, if you don’t heed the warning light, you may face serious consequences like being stranded or facing major repair costs.
Our dental hygienists and dentists are your warning light to protect your dental health, as well as your overall health, from serious, and perhaps, costly problems down the line.
Patients who visit Carson and Acasio Dentistry, and our sister practice, Spanish Hills Dentistry, are thrilled with our staff and your treatment.
When you leave our office, we want to see you smile.
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Whatever you think your dental needs are, you should give us a call for a free consultation. Our practice in Oxnard is Carson & Acasio Dentistry (805) 987-1711. In Camarillo, we do business as Spanish Hills Dentistry (805) 983-0717.
RICH SPRAGUE
Rich is our Marketing Services Manager. He’s responsible for our business rebrand, including the design of our new logo, the production of our marketing materials, and the development of our new website. He is extremely passionate towards the complete marketing and sales process. In addition to his Master’s Degree in Web Design & New Media, he has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and has been writing articles since high school. Rich's email is rich@richsprague.com.
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