Apex Dental is a general and family dental office in Northborough, Massachusetts. We treat children as well as adults and are currently accepting new patients.
Our preventive care program is the foundation for our dental office. Each patient who visits our Northborough dental office will receive a comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment plan. Our dental cleanings are performed by trained dental hygienists in our Northborough, MA dental office. You will also spend time one-on-one with the dentist to discuss your general dental health and any problems or concerns you have.
The Importance of Routine Dental Care
Our highly trained and experienced hygienists will perform your teeth cleanings (dental prophylaxis). This treatment is a vital part of your preventive care routine and the longevity of your natural smile. While good oral hygiene at home is important, your dental hygienist will use specialized dental tools that will reach tooth surfaces that are often missed with daily tooth brushing. Professional teeth cleaning will help prevent halitosis, gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss.
While cleaning your teeth, your hygienist will look for any signs of decay or damage. If problems do exist, we may recommend additional visits in order to maintain optimal dental health. Discovering and treating these issues in the early stages means treatment is more conservative. Keeping your smile clean and healthy benefits both your oral and overall health.
Preventing Gum Disease With Dental Exams
An estimated 75% of adults have some form of periodontal disease, better known as gum disease. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults 35 and older. A good oral hygiene program and routine professional care is the best way to reduce your risk of gum disease. Dr. Gauthier and the team at Apex Dental focus on preventative dentistry which includes the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, bleeding gums, and tooth decay.
Most patients’ dental and periodontal health can be treated using non-surgical methods. If caught early, gingivitis can be treated with a thorough dental cleaning in a Northborough, MA dentist’s office.
One of our dentists may also recommend improved at-home oral hygiene and using an anti-bacterial mouth rinse to help keep your oral bacteria balanced. Another treatment we may recommend is scaling and root planing where plaque and tartar are gently removed from the teeth and gums.
Using special tools, one of our dentists will scrape away plaque and tartar buildup and remove bacteria from the deep gum pockets where it forms. Removing the bacteria from the pockets in the early stages of development can help prevent gum recession and tooth loss.
Other patients may require more intensive treatment to rebuild the tissue around teeth and restore teeth that may have begun to decay, broken, or you’ve already been lost.
Age-Specific Dentistry
There are many different oral health problems that you may experience. But what’s most common for children isn’t usually the same as what’s common for teens, adults, or seniors. Certain age groups are more susceptible to certain oral health problems.
For younger children, tooth decay is the biggest problem they face. They tend to have diets that are higher in sugar and they aren’t as good at brushing their teeth. We offer education for both parents and children about the best way to care for little mouths. We may recommend dental sealants, too. We paint a thin protective layer over the molars and teeth that are most susceptible to tooth decay. It offers an extra layer of protection against bacteria.
When you reach your teens or early twenties, your wisdom teeth develop. Most of us don’t have enough extra room in our jaw to fit an extra set of molars. If they erupt, your mouth gets cramped and your teeth bunch together. Wisdom teeth can be impacted in the jawbone, too. This causes pain and infection if it’s not taken care of. We often recommend wisdom tooth extraction for the best results.
As we age, the years and lifestyle habits take their toll on our mouths. Older adults are the most likely group to suffer from missing teeth. At our office, we offer a wide range of tooth replacement solutions to complete your smile again. We recommend dental implants the most. They’re the most natural-looking and feeling tooth replacement option. You get back 100% of your bite function because it replaces the root in addition to the crown.
Preventative Care FAQs
Want to know more about preventative care? Read answers to common questions about our dental services here:
What do I do if my tooth gets knocked out?
If you are in an accident and your primary tooth gets knocked out, try to locate it. If found, place it in a container with milk, or your own saliva. A primary tooth can be placed back in the socket by your dentist in an emergency. If you can not locate your tooth, you should still call your dentist and schedule an emergency visit to examine your mouth for damage.
What should I do about my tooth pain?
Tooth pain can be a sign of many dental problems. It can also be a temporary issue from chewing too hard. Call your dentist if your tooth pain lasts for more than a couple of days in a localized area. Try not to use Orajel or other tooth pain relief medication for long periods of time as this only masks the issue and does not help heal the root cause.
How do dental sealants work?
Dental sealants are a material that helps prevent tooth decay. Sealant material is painted on the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. This material is safe for teeth of all ages and is unnoticeable. Once cured, it creates a clear shield on the teeth, blocking harmful bacteria from creating cavities and infections. Dental sealants can last for many years before naturally deteriorating.
Schedule a Dental Exam Today
Dr. Gauthier applies his artistic skill to every patient, bringing an element of cosmetic dentistry to each procedure. You can be sure that your smile will be as beautiful as it is healthy. If you are interested in learning more about our general dentistry services or other solutions, please call (508) 506-1691 or schedule a dental appointment online.