The Gentle Dental Group specializes in comprehensive dental treatments ranging from restorative to cosmetic to preventative dentistry in West Palm Beach and across the state of Florida. At our state-of-the-art facilities, each Gentle Dental location utilizes the latest in preventative dental technology, whether providing our patients with routine exams and check-ups, gentle dental cleanings, sealants, or oral cancer screenings.
For 25 years, the dentists at Gentle Dental have been providing excellent preventative dental care by encouraging healthy oral habits to enhance the smiles of each and every one of our patients. We remain committed to ensuring our patients receive the highest level of dental treatment available, in convenient locations at affordable prices.
Dental Exams and Routine Checkups
The Gentle Dental Group recommends patients see our general dentists in West Palm Beach for regular check-ups at least every six months. The dentists also stress that regular dental exams and the development of healthy oral habits keep their patients’ smiles bright and dental care quick, comfortable, and convenient.
By scheduling routine dental check-ups, our patients can prevent serious dental issues from arising, allowing them to avoid more significant dental procedures in the future.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a mineral that plays an important role in our patients’ dental health because it helps prevent tooth decay. By fortifying the enamel of our patients’ teeth against harmful demineralizing compounds such as acids and plaque formed from bacteria and sugar, fluoride can be incorporated into the development of healthy teeth. For this reason, our general dentists often include fluoride treatments in pediatric dental care to strengthen the growth of our younger patients’ permanent teeth.
Gentle Cleaning
Frequent cleanings allows our team of general dentists in West Palm Beach to help our patients maintain healthy oral habits. By checking on the condition of their teeth and gums on a regular basis, our dentists can help keep our patients’ teeth white and bright, while eliminating the development of common concerns such as plaque or gum disease.
Fillings
Fillings are a common general dentistry procedure typically used as a result of tooth decay or other damage to the overall structure of the tooth. The dentists at Gentle Dental use white fillings, also known as composite or resin fillings, which can be blended to match the color of our patients’ surrounding teeth, rendering these fillings virtually invisible.
These tooth colored fillings are also long-lasting because of their ability to bond with enamel and strengthen the structure of the affected tooth, which in turn reduces the risk of future chips or cracks. Additionally, because of the composite material’s ability to bond with the tooth, our dentists are able to preserve more of our patients’ natural teeth, thus extending the longevity of the teeth.
Oral Cancer Screenings
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the U. S. However, if diagnosed early on, oral cancer has a survival rate of 80-90%. To further support the preventative dentistry needs of Gentle Dental Group patients, our general dentists use the FDA-approved oral lesion identification and marking system called Visilite ™. The system allows our dental care team to identify abnormalities in patients with an increased risk of developing oral cancer.
While the dentists at Gentle Dental Group routinely screen for oral cancer, the state-of-the-art Visilite ™ oral cancer screening system provides our dentists with another increasingly effective method for identifying oral cancer early on to ensure our patients are diagnosed early on.
Sealants
Sealants provide protective barriers for our patients’ teeth to prevent cavities before they start. Made of a composite resin designed to seal the tiny crevices commonly found in a patient’s teeth, sealants help prevent decay from developing.
Sealants are commonly used in pediatric dentistry to protect our younger patients’ teeth while they continue to develop healthy and conscientious oral habits. Our general dentists will review each child’s brushing and eating habits and help the parents decide whether sealants are appropriate for your children.
Deep Scaling and Root Planing
Deep scaling and root planning is often used when our dentists or dental hygienists identify an unhealthy condition beneath our patients’ gums, commonly referred to periodontal disease. After a thorough evaluation, our dental specialists will recommend a course of dental treatment, which can include a combination of the following methods of conventional periodontal therapy:
Deep Scaling
Once determining dental scaling is required after x-rays and a comprehensive dental exam, a portion of the mouth is typically anesthetized to allow the dental hygienist to comfortably scrape the tartar that has formed below the gums. Once the deposits of calcified plaque, or tartar, have been removed, the gum tissue should adhere to the base of the tooth to provide better protection in the future.
Root Planing
Dental scaling can leave a rough surface, so it is often combined with root planing. During the root planing procedure, the dentist or hygienist will smooth the surface of the tooth to help protect the teeth. By removing the tartar, and planing or smoothing the surface of the affected teeth, the gums are allowed to regenerate and tighten around the teeth to provide better protection and avoid further periodontal dental treatments.
Following the combination of these periodontal procedures, patients can typically expect to see a reduction in the amount of gum bleeding and overall soreness associated with periodontal disease. To ensure the gums continue to heal properly, the dental hygienists will chart the pocket depth of the gums, looking for an overall depth of 1 to 3 mm.
