Family Dentistry Pantego

Dental Checkups and Cleanings

Before Dr. Shah makes a recommendation for specific dental treatments, she’ll need to understand exactly what your smile needs. That’s where a dental exam and cleaning come into play. At these six-month appointments, the dentist will evaluate your dental and oral health and assess your gum tissue, and the hygienist will provide a refreshing cleaning. Digital X-rays will be taken once a year to ensure we have the most updated view of your oral anatomy.

Dental Sealants

Deeply grooved and pitted molars are especially at risk for decay. Since they are often hard to reach, especially for little hands just learning how to brush, it’s important that proper protection is available. Dental sealants are clear plastic coatings that we paint on teeth to seal out bacteria. Although the treatment is almost always recommended for children, dental sealants can also be helpful for adults, too.

Oral Cancer Screening

At each dental checkup, we’ll conduct an oral cancer screening to find tissue that looks suspiciously pre-cancerous or cancerous. We look for early warning signs such as a scaly patch, a sore that won’t heal, or a lump in any oral tissue. If we find anything that raises a concern, we will refer you to a local physician who can provide further testing and a formal diagnosis.

Sportsguards

Do you have sports enthusiasts in your family? Then you must make sure their smiles are protected during play and practice. A sportsguard is a customized oral appliance that fits snuggly over the upper arch of teeth to guard against the consequences of a blow to the face or a serious fall. The device serves as a barrier to keep teeth firmly in place and gum tissue from suffering a laceration. When worn correctly, a custom sportsguard can give you and your avid athlete greater peace of mind.

Six Month Smiles

With Six Month Smiles, Dr. Shah offers orthodontic treatment for smiles with cosmetic misalignment. These braces use the same mechanics as traditional brackets and wires; however, because the brackets are triangular, teeth and roots move more quickly, so the entire process is usually completed in just six months.