PREVENTATIVE
Long-term Health
Preventative dentistry is one of the cornerstones of good long-term health. What is happening inside your mouth affects your entire body. Oral disease has been linked to 57 systemic disease conditions of the body. Active infections in your mouth travel to other areas of your body and cause inflammation and disease there, such as plaque in the lining of your arteries.
Recognizing early signs of oral disease is key to prevention. With comprehensive in-office examinations and thorough cleanings, our goal is to prevent caries (cavities) and gum disease from developing in the first place. We offer Guided Biofilm Therapy, which is the newest, cutting-edge technology in prevention. We also talk with you about your personal risk factors for developing caries and help you implement at-home care options accordingly, so that you can make your mouth less friendly to cavity-causing bacterias.
When dental issues do develop, we treat with therapeutics early and swiftly so that we can help you maintain optimum health and avoid more elaborate procedures down the road.
For some people, dental issues such as bone loss from gum diseases is caused more from genetics than at-home care routines. If this applies to you, your at-home care routine of brushing and flossing is especially important, but in some cases, it may not be enough. Dr. Kim and her team implement a Perio Program to help patients prevent and treat gum disease. This program is highly beneficial for our patients with a genetic predisposition toward gum disease. We invite you to learn more about our Perio Program below.
Our Perio Program
Our Perio Program is both preventative and therapeutic in its treatment of gingivitis (gum disease without bone loss) and periodontitis (gum disease with bone loss). Our objective is to help you maintain a healthy, disease-free mouth. When gum disease is present, our goal is to reverse it and/or maintain it at a stable level.
There are two main types of treatment protocols:
1. Mechanical treatment: using hand instruments and ultrasonics
2. Chemotherapeutic treatment: to target bacteria, viruses, and yeasts located around teeth, as well as all other oral tissues.
Studies have shown that combining both types of treatment is most effective. For a more targeted approach, we offer lab testing to find out your exact pathogen profile so we know the best form of treatment. We use specialized labs such as OralDNA and Seattle Fidalab. We will recommend a targeted approach of anti-microbials for use in our office as well as at home. With regular monitoring and maintenance, we can help you achieve overall health and fitness.
