At Gandara Dental, we are committed to helping you obtain the right information and get educated on oral health conditions, dental procedures, and proper oral hygiene techniques. Oral hygiene instruction is helpful and educational information meant to teach and guide our patients to prevent new cavities, and to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean. Basic interventions encompass techniques such as brushing and flossing. Comprehensive oral hygiene includes a broader range of approaches, including dental prophylaxis, regular checkups, and the prompt care of issues that impact the teeth and gums.

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At your initial oral hygiene visit, the hygienist will instruct you on the proper methods of brushing and flossing. Follow up visits will be to further assess your progress in maintaining good oral health, and to help review and reinforce techniques of cleaning at home. If you have any questions related to your oral hygiene, do not hesitate to ask our very-qualified staff. They will be more than happy to answer.

Dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth, usually the premolars and molars (back teeth), to prevent tooth decay. The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.
Although thorough brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, they cannot always get into all the nooks and crannies of the back teeth to remove the food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by
"sealing out" plaque and food. Applying sealant is a simple and painless process. It takes only a few minutes for your dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant to seal each tooth. Sealants can protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for chipping or wearing at regular dental check-ups. Sealants can be replaced by a dentist as necessary.

Dental cleanings are a 30 to 60 minute preventive procedure that is important for keeping your gums and teeth clean. Our dental cleaning procedure consists of an initial teeth and gum examination to identify any abnormalities. Next, with the help of a small hook-like tool called a scaler, the hygienist removes any plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth, near the gum line and in between the teeth. Over time, plaque in your mouth will harden and become tartar, which may only be removed by special means at a dental office. Following the removal of plaque and tartar is the polishing and flossing of the teeth, which looks to remove any stains and remaining plaque from the teeth. Finally, a fluoride treatment is applied on the teeth with the use of a fluoride gel administered through a mouthpiece. After a final rinse, the patient can confidently sport a clean and healthy smile.

Dental X-rays, also known as radiographs, are images of your teeth that the dentist uses to evaluate your oral health. These X-rays are used with low levels of radiation to capture images of the interior of your teeth and gums. This can help the dentist to identify ares of decay that may not be visible with an oral exam, decay occurring beneath an existing filling, reveal bone loss that accompanies gum disease, revela changes in the root canal resulting from infection, or assist in the preparation for tooth implants, braces, dentures, or other dental procedures.