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Good oral health begins at home with routine brushing and flossing, but it shouldn’t end there. Everyone, from young children to mature adults, needs to see a dentist at least twice a year for routine preventive care. Preventive dentists like Dr. Arakelian have two primary goals. First, they want to diagnose common problems as early as possible. Diagnosing dental problems early is essential for providing timely treatment that preserves your otherwise healthy smile. Diagnosing trouble early is just the beginning, though. Our team also wants to help you prevent the most common dental problems from forming in the first place.
Through biannual dental exams, you can make sure that your at-home oral care routine is sufficient, confirm the presence of underlying dental conditions that require treatment, and even catch early signs of other systemic illnesses you may not have otherwise known about. During the exam, Dr. Arakelian will check all of your essential oral structures, including your teeth, gums, throat and other areas for any issues. Afterwards, he’ll provide a recommendation for treatment if needed.
One way our Haverhill team can help you prevent common dental concerns is with routine dental cleanings. As effective as your toothbrush may be at keeping bacteria and plaque away from your teeth and gums, an experienced hygienist using advanced tools can thoroughly clean parts of your smile you may have difficulty reaching at home. And with a service like dental sealants, we can provide even more advanced protection that will stay with you in between visits.
Bruxism is a serious condition in which patients unconsciously grind their teeth, often as a reaction to stress. On top of this, many patients with bruxism have the most trouble with their condition while they’re asleep. Left untreated, it can contribute to frequent headaches and earaches, as well as TMJ dysfunction. But wearing a custom-made nightguard from Dr. Arakelian’s office can help you relieve your symptoms and prevent dangerous harm.
While certain behaviors, like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, are known to be associated with oral cancer, at least a quarter of cases occur in patients who don’t engage in either of these risky behaviors. That’s why Dr. Arakelian encourages all of his patients to undergo routine oral cancer screenings. Diagnosing this very serious disease as early as possible is the only way to increase your chances of making a full recovery!
Fluoride is a common mineral found in many of the foods we eat, our public drinking water, and, of course, our oral care products like toothpaste and mouthwash. Not only does fluoride work to kill cavity-causing bacteria, but it also strengthens existing tooth enamel and reverses the early signs of tooth decay. After your cleaning, we’ll provide a topical fluoride application to give your teeth the long-term protection they need, especially for younger patients.
