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Prevention
Exams
Exams are one of the most important things you can do for your health. We advise all our patients to see Dr. Kooning at least twice a year in our Lake Oswego office for a complete examination. What happens during an exam? Some incredibly important information about your body is uncovered! Here’s what we do:
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Take radiographs of your mouth, which show us problems not visible to the naked eye – things like cavities between teeth, cysts on your tooth roots, abscesses, tooth fractures or cancerous areas.
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Thoroughly exam each of your teeth for decay or other disease.
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Check your gum tissue both around and underneath your teeth. Gums that have pulled away from your teeth indicate excess bacteria and infection. The pockets that form from the separation trap food and make a perfect place for tartar to form. This part of the exam is critical.
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Look for contraindications that oral health issues are affecting your overall physical health. Oral disease has been scientifically found to cause stroke, high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, rheumatoid arthritis, low fetal birth weight, certain head and neck cancers, dementia, erectile dysfunction, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Prostate health in men is also a concern.
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Help you determine if your current home care regimen is strident enough
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Discuss lifestyle issues that might be affecting your oral and overall health and offer solutions to them. If you’re struggling with cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, alcohol or other dependency issues, we can help you get a plan to overcome them and get healthy. We truly care about you, and your whole body.
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Conduct a full oral cancer screening at each exam.
Our Practice Philosophy
Cleanings
You already know that in order to maintain a healthy mouth, it is important that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily. But even the most diligent and thorough home care is no guarantee of clean teeth. Dr. Chris Kooning and our hygiene team have a variety of professional tools that aren't available to the general public, allowing us to thoroughly clean your teeth and prevent a host of physical problems. Build-up of plaque can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. By having your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year at our Lake Oswego office, you can prevent these and other issues, such as cavities and tooth loss.
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Since gum disease doesn't always exhibit symptoms, it is critical that your teeth are professionally cleaned to protect your health. Cleanings also give you whiter, brighter teeth and fresh breath.
Dental Sealants
Regardless of how often you brush and floss, your teeth (especially molars) have deep grooves in them that tend to trap food. Left alone, food particles turn into acid, which feeds cavity-causing bacteria. At Kooning Family Dentistry, we believe that regular dental visits prevent cavities and disease, but six months between visits may be damaging to cavity-prone people. We place sealants on your most susceptible teeth to protect them from decay.
What are Sealants, and How do they Work?
Sealants are made of a resin compound applied to the chewing surface of your molars, sealing out food particles and destructive bacteria. Daily brushing cleans away debris from the tops of them. Applying sealants is quick and painless – and requires no drilling or anesthesia. We clean and dry your teeth, then apply a gel that roughens your tooth surfaces, making it easier for the material to adhere. Finally, we apply the sealant and cure it under an ultraviolet light.
Sealants are meant to last several years. They are designed to withstand the normal forces of chewing, but not to survive chewing on hard materials. We use your regular exam as an opportunity to check your sealants and reapply them if necessary. Usually, we place sealants on the permanent molars of children as soon as they erupt, because they are the most cavity-prone of our patients. However, we encourage all of our patients to consider them, since they really do help seal out decay. At Kooning Family Dentistry, we take your oral health very seriously.
If you are interested in sealants to help further protect your teeth from tooth decay, give our Lake Oswego, OR office a call today at (503) 675-4594.
Fluoride Treatment
When it comes to preventing tooth decay, few things are as effective as fluoride in increasing the density of tooth enamel. Its properties can even work to reverse tooth decay in its early stages. When used early enough and in sufficient quantities, fluoride can help make children’s permanent teeth stronger and impervious to demineralization. It’s also great for adults, by helping to maintain and strengthen tooth structure. At Kooning Family Dentistry, we are happy to help you determine if fluoride treatment is a smart option in your prevention strategy. Since our treatments are a higher strength than what’s available commercially, they provide more protection than toothpastes or mouthwashes.
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Our fluoride comes in two ways: liquid or varnish. The liquid is swished in your mouth and expectorated (no eating for 30 minutes.) Varnish is literally painted onto the teeth and air dried, so patients can eat immediately afterward. Varnish is the stronger of the two options and is perfect for those with dry mouth, gum disease, frequent cavities, poor diet, or deep grooves in their teeth.
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Are you interested in learning more about fluoride treatments? Give us a call at (503) 675-4594 today and schedule an appointment at our Lake Oswego office to come in and speak with one of our experts!
