Preventive dental care lays the groundwork for a healthy, beautiful smile. In combination with proper at-home hygiene practices, like twice-daily brushing and flossing at least once a day, having regular cleanings and oral exams can help keep your teeth and gums healthy and free from decay and other dental health issues. The best thing you can do for your oral health is keep your professional dental team involved. At your preventative appointment every six months, Dr. Hlavaty will examine your mouth for signs of cavities and gum disease. Your dental hygienists will use special instruments to remove the plaque and calculus from your teeth. Routine checkups at Hlavaty Dental Arts also allow us to track your oral health and address any minor problems with your oral health before they become major ones. Early treatment will reduce your potential for serious health problems down the road. The most powerful way to protect your oral health is regular preventative dentistry. We provide preventative dentistry to patients in Santa Barbara, Montecito, and the surrounding areas. Safeguard your smile by giving us a call today at Hlavaty Dental Arts
We will thoroughly clean your teeth and gums, gently removing plaque and tartar that may have built up. This includes flossing between your teeth and scraping off plaque that has accumulated beneath the gum line, using water or an ultrasonic cleaner. After your cleaning, your teeth will be polished and your smile will be left feeling refreshed and reinvigorated.
If it’s been a while since you’ve had dental x-rays taken, your dentist may recommend x-rays. Dental x-rays allow us to see beneath the surface, and find problems that may not be visible to the naked eye. With x-rays, we can make more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment plans & we only use state-of-the-art,
low radiation digital x-rays.
Your dentist will review your x-rays before taking an in-depth look at your teeth and gums. If we notice any areas of concern, we’ll take the time to explain our findings, and help you decide how to best address it. Our goal is to keep you informed and educated, so you can make the right oral health decision with confidence.
Based on what we uncover during your exam, you’ll work together with your dentist to create a personalized treatment plan that is tailored to fit your unique needs, budget, and lifestyle. If we find your mouth to be healthy and in good shape, we’ll simply schedule your next regular checkup and cleaning!
No matter what kind of treatment you’re scheduling, our team is here for you. We can answer any insurance or financing questions you may have, and will do everything we can to ensure every visit is simple and stress-free.
Attending regular teeth cleanings will set your smile up for success. We’ll ensure that your mouth is healthy and strong, and keep an eye on any potential issues. For most patients, regular appointments are recommended every six months. This is so your dental hygienist can address any minor plaque, bacteria, or minor stains that may have built up since your last visit.
Keeping diligent with your at-home oral care routine is equally as imperative as professional cleanings, and is the most effective way to keep your smile healthy. Brush at least twice a day for two minutes using fluoride-rich toothpaste. Also, floss at least once a day, ideally at the end of the day. This will remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria that brushing alone cannot remove.
Many patients struggle with gum disease, and if left untreated, risk losing their teeth and other problems. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and can only be reversed with deep cleanings and attentive at-home hygiene. If you have gum disease, keeping up with regular cleanings and checkups will help you gain control over your oral health before it’s too late!
For patients with more advanced periodontitis stages, we recommend scheduling deep cleanings at more frequent intervals, usually every three to four months. Although advanced gum disease can’t be reversed, deep cleanings, scaling, and root planing can halt periodontitis and preserve your oral health.
Digital x-rays are fast, comfortable, and safe. High-resolution images help us make more accurate diagnoses while exposing you to a fraction of the radiation used by traditional film x-rays. Most patients will get a full set of x-rays to begin with, followed by yearly checkup x-rays. However, additional imaging may be recommended one if you have a potential issue or if you have experienced a dental emergency.
Fluoride treatments are easy to add to any routine preventive visit, and are great for helping keep dental decay at bay. After your cleaning, your dentist will apply a fluoride-rich varnish or gel to your teeth, and leave it in place for several minutes before rinsing it away. Fluoride helps to strengthen your enamel through a process called “remineralization,” which works by attracting minerals like calcium and phosphates to your teeth, helping to restore their hardness and increase their resistance to acids.
Dental sealants are most commonly recommended for children who may be high-risk for tooth decay, but they’re also a great option for patients of any age who wish to protect themselves from developing cavities. A relatively straight-forward procedure, dental sealants start with the application of dental resin, usually to the rear teeth, as they have more grooves and uneven surfaces where plaque and bacteria can easily hide. A UV light will be used to cure the resin, hardening it and creating a powerful barrier between your enamel and food debris, acid, or bacteria. When applied correctly, dental sealants can last for years!
Many people in Santa Barbara suffer needlessly with jaw, head & neck pain caused by TMJ or Temporomandibular joint disorder. TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jawbone to your skull. TMJ disorders refer to a group of conditions that affect this joint and the muscles surrounding it. These disorders can cause pain and discomfort in your jaw, face, and neck, and make it difficult to open and close your mouth properly.
Symptoms of TMJ disorders may include jaw pain & tenderness, jaw clicking, jaw locking, limited jaw movement, migraine headaches, and other symptoms including neck, back, & facial pain are commonly related to the jaw. TMJ sufferers often remark that stressful times increase TMJ symptoms. Bruxism (teeth grinding) and clenching can aggravate TMJ pain. Many grind their teeth subconsciously when stressed and/or do it in their sleep. You don’t have to suffer needlessly. TMJ treatment and relief is available.
There are a variety of things that may cause or contribute to TMJ disorders. Habitually grinding or clenching your teeth, often during sleep or times of stress, can put a lot of strain on the TMJ leading to inflammation of the joint space. Misalignment of the jaw or teeth can be an underlying contributor. If your teeth or jawbones don't fit together properly, it can stress the TMJ and lead to discomfort as well as increasing the tendency for clenching & grinding habits. Any trauma or injury to your jaw, such as a blow to the face or a car accident, can lead to TMJ problems as well. Various forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, can affect the TMJ and cause pain and inflammation.
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to consult with your dentist. They can evaluate your condition, provide a diagnosis, and recommend appropriate treatment options. Treatment for TMJ disorders may include lifestyle changes, stress management techniques, dental splints or mouthguards, physical therapy, or in some cases, dental procedures or surgery.
Remember, early detection and intervention can help manage TMJ disorders effectively, so don't hesitate to reach out to your dental professional if you have concerns.
Neuromuscular dental treatment aims to align and balance the jaw, alleviating TMJ-related pain and symptoms.
The treatment process begins with a comprehensive evaluation of your jaw joints, muscles, and bite. During the evaluation, your dentist will determine your optimal jaw position. This is the position where your jaw muscles are most relaxed and your jaw joints are in their ideal alignment. By identifying and correcting jaw misalignment, we aim to create a stable and harmonious bite.
Neuromuscular dental treatment can be addressed with a variety of techniques.
A removable appliance, known as an orthotic or splint such as the NTI-tss device may be custom-made for you to wear over your teeth. The orthotic helps guide your jaw into the optimal neuromuscular position, allowing the muscles and joints to function properly. This helps take the stress off the joint. These appliances are one of the most widely used treatments for chronic migraines as well.
Sometimes, teeth & bite adjustment is needed. Through the use of selective reshaping or dental restorations, your dentist may make precise adjustments to your teeth to achieve the desired bite alignment and balance.
Botox is another way that we can deal with these types of issues. It is injected around pain fibers that are involved in headaches & into the muscles that are responsible for clenching. Botox enters the nerve endings around where it is injected and blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission & reduces the signals causing muscles to contract. This prevents activation of pain networks in the brain & reduces muscle tension. Botox prevents migraine headaches before they start, but takes time to work. Patients see increasing benefit with an increase in the number of treatment cycles. One treatment lasts for 10-12 weeks, and patients reported that two Botox treatments reduced the number of headache days by approximately 50%.
In some cases, additional dental procedures, such as orthodontics or restorative dentistry, may be necessary to ensure a stable and long-lasting result.
By addressing the underlying causes of TMJ disorders and optimizing the function and alignment of your jaw, neuromuscular dental treatment aims to provide long-term relief from TMJ-related symptoms. This may include reducing or eliminating jaw pain, headaches, muscle tension, and other associated discomfort.
It's worthwhile to note that neuromuscular dental treatment effectiveness may vary from person to person. Dr. Hlavaty has been effectively treating patients with these issues for almost 20 years & he can determine if this approach is appropriate for your specific TMJ issues. Give us a call to set up a consultation & he can assess your condition and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Oral cancer screenings are an important part of every preventive care visit. Catching oral cancer in its early stages allows us to stop it before it spreads, and can save your life. That’s why we’ll always check for signs of oral cancer at every preventive visit.
Your dentist will examine your oral tissues, like your gums and tongue, keeping an eye out for abnormalities like lesions, lumps, discolorations. If we find anything unusual, we’ll take a biopsy and send it out to a specialist for a thorough analysis. Although oral cancer isn’t overly common, it’s important to remain proactive and consistent with your oral healthcare routine, so we can identify any issues before they become major problems.
Teeth grinding and clenching while sleeping is a common issue faced by many patients. Night guards are a great solution for this unconscious grinding, also known as bruxism. Night guards form a barrier that protects your teeth from damage caused by the pressure of clenching and grinding. Your dentist will take a 3D digital impression (scan) of your teeth and gums that will be sent to a dental lab, where your night guard will be custom-crafted. Night guards work by easing the tension in your jaw, alleviating the painful headaches and other side effects of clenching and grinding, so you can get the sleep you need and keep your teeth from wearing down.
Sports mouth guards are worn over the teeth, just like night guards. However sports guards are designed specifically to protect your smile from dental injuries that are so common when playing high-intensity impact sports. Custom-fitted sports guards can help protect athletes from oral trauma caused by collisions to the mouth, face, and head. If you play football, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, hockey, gymnastics, mountain biking, or other activities that put you at risk for injury due from falls, body contact, or flying objects, ask us about getting fitted for a custom sports guard today! Tailored to fit your unique smile, sports guards are comfortable, durable, and won’t stop you from playing the sports you love.
You should brush your teeth at least two times a day for two minutes at a time. Begin by holding your brush at a 45-degree angle relative to your teeth and gums. Clean the front, back, and chewing surfaces of each tooth using small, circular strokes, spending about 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth. Make sure your toothpaste has fluoride, and is ADA-approved, and remember to replace your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every 3-4 months.
Begin by gathering around 24 inches of dental floss. Wrap most of it around one index or middle finger, and wind the remaining few inches around the index finger of your other hand. Holding about a 1-inch section, keep it taught between your fingers and thumbs as you gently glide the floss between your teeth. Use a gentle rocking motion instead of trying to force the floss down, as it can slip and that force can damage your gums. When the floss is between your teeth, take it into the gum line following the c-shaped curve of the tooth to dislodge plaque and bacteria. Keep repeating this process for both sides of every tooth, keeping sure to wind a new 1-inch section each time to help prevent the spread of bacteria.
Prophylactic cleanings are also referred to as “regular cleanings.” These are the cleanings you receive during your regular dental appointments, and are important to get every 6 months to help prevent decay and keep bad breath at bay. We will remove any buildup of plaque, tartar, or bacteria from your teeth and floss between them to ensure your smile stays healthy and free of debris.
Periodontal cleanings, also known as “deep cleanings,” are only required for patients with periodontal, or gum, disease. As the name suggests, these sessions are more thorough than regular cleanings. During your visit, your hygienist will carefully scrape away plaque and tartar that has built up between your teeth and gums, as well as taking care to smooth out the roots of your teeth, to eliminate pockets that can trap bacteria and perpetuate gum disease. Deep cleanings are an important part of every periodontal maintenance routine, and are meant to help those suffering from gum disease preserve their oral health.
For some patients, dental insurance policies fully cover routine preventive care like cleanings, exams, and x-rays. Even if preventive care is not 100% covered by your insurance plan, it will likely be at least partially covered. Some plans may even cover treatments that are considered optional, such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments. For specific details about your insurance plan, get in touch with us today, and find out how we can help maximize your benefits.
If you don't have dental insurance, ask us about our in-office discount plan. It includes your yearly preventative care and actually costs less than most dental insurance plans.
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