Peak to Peak Teeth Cleaning and Dental Prophylaxis (Preventative) Services
Teeth cleaning for adults
When you schedule a teeth cleaning visit at Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene, expect to feel well attended to and taken care of. We'll perform an exam for oral health (see our Periodontal Care page for more details on this). We may also take digital X-rays of your mouth to assess for cavities, bone loss, and any other issues under the gums. Our digital X-ray system is state-of–the art. It is quick, painless, and designed for reduced exposure to radiation. An off-site overseeing dentist will evaluate your X-rays and help to diagnose. You will be supported in coordinating the care that you need. We can send referrals to your general dentist and/or a specialty dentist. If you don’t have a dentist, we’ll discuss finding a dentist for your personal needs. After the exam, we'll use hand tools and possibly our ultrasonic scaler to thoroughly and gently clean and polish your teeth. During our visit, we're happy to answer your questions about your oral health, connections to your overall health, and we'll offer you information that directly applies to your particular situation. We're here to clean your teeth, and also to provide education to empower you to take the best possible care of your mouth and teeth and to address any problems or potential problems we discover during the visit. |
We've found that most kids' fears of the dentist come from hearing their parents talk about how scared they are of having to go to the dentist. We try to change that by working with parents to help teach kids how to take care of their teeth. - Staci
Teeth cleaning and dental hygiene for kids
Encouragement, education and motivation for good oral health starts at a young age. At Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene we enjoy inspiring kids to build healthy dental hygiene habits. We teach proper teeth cleaning techniques and make it a fun environment, building rapport so kids don’t have fear of the dentist. We've found that most kids' fears of the dentist come from hearing their parents talk about how scared they are of having to go to the dentist. We try to change that by working with parents to help teach kids how to take care of their teeth. Screening at an early age is best for prevention of oral disease and tooth problems, along with education and fluoride exposure.
Children's sealants
Teeth are most vulnerable when erupting. Sealant is a protective coating designed to prevent cavities. It is applied to coat the deep grooves of children's teeth as they are erupting and reduces the risk of cavities in the teeth. Fluoride is important for the teeth because it helps strengthen the enamel layer to prevent early cavities. There are various types of topical applications for fluoride. At Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene, we prefer to use a varnish, as it’s more readily absorbed and more effective in protecting the teeth against cavities. The varnish we use includes an ingredient called glass ionomer. It contains fluoride, but allows fluoride to be absorbed within the tooth, which is what strengthens the tooth enamel. We us a light–cured method vs. a self-drying method. The self-drying method doesn’t last as well and doesn’t offer the uptake of fluoride into the tooth. If anything gets trapped underneath the sealant, it can cause a cavity; that’s why glass ionomer is preferred. This method of sealant requires more technical skill and takes a little longer, but it is a much preferred method of sealing the teeth. We are aware that not every parent wishes for their child to be exposed to fluoride. At Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene, we respect your decision regarding fluoride.
Note that sealant is available for adults as well. The treatment method is the same.
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) treatment
Silver diamine fluoride was developed in Japan and has been used since the 1970s to curb the development of dental cavitities, and to prevent cavities. As a cavity is starting in the enamel layer of a tooth, if SDF is applied, it can arrest the cavity and stop the cavity from progressing into the second, softer layer of tooth, called dentin. SDF can sometimes save a tooth from having to have a filling. If you have SDF treatment, we’ll check at each visit using X-rays and visual examination to see if SDF might need to be re-applied to keep the cavity arrested. It's important to understand that SDF may not be a one-time treatment; it may require re-application for maintenance. Also note that silver diamine fluoride turns black on the teeth once it's applied. It can be an effective way to stop cavities and protect teeth, but not everyone will choose to use SDF on more visible areas of the teeth. At Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene, we'll always discuss treatment options with you so you can make the best, informed decision for your oral health needs.
Encouragement, education and motivation for good oral health starts at a young age. At Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene we enjoy inspiring kids to build healthy dental hygiene habits. We teach proper teeth cleaning techniques and make it a fun environment, building rapport so kids don’t have fear of the dentist. We've found that most kids' fears of the dentist come from hearing their parents talk about how scared they are of having to go to the dentist. We try to change that by working with parents to help teach kids how to take care of their teeth. Screening at an early age is best for prevention of oral disease and tooth problems, along with education and fluoride exposure.
Children's sealants
Teeth are most vulnerable when erupting. Sealant is a protective coating designed to prevent cavities. It is applied to coat the deep grooves of children's teeth as they are erupting and reduces the risk of cavities in the teeth. Fluoride is important for the teeth because it helps strengthen the enamel layer to prevent early cavities. There are various types of topical applications for fluoride. At Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene, we prefer to use a varnish, as it’s more readily absorbed and more effective in protecting the teeth against cavities. The varnish we use includes an ingredient called glass ionomer. It contains fluoride, but allows fluoride to be absorbed within the tooth, which is what strengthens the tooth enamel. We us a light–cured method vs. a self-drying method. The self-drying method doesn’t last as well and doesn’t offer the uptake of fluoride into the tooth. If anything gets trapped underneath the sealant, it can cause a cavity; that’s why glass ionomer is preferred. This method of sealant requires more technical skill and takes a little longer, but it is a much preferred method of sealing the teeth. We are aware that not every parent wishes for their child to be exposed to fluoride. At Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene, we respect your decision regarding fluoride.
Note that sealant is available for adults as well. The treatment method is the same.
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) treatment
Silver diamine fluoride was developed in Japan and has been used since the 1970s to curb the development of dental cavitities, and to prevent cavities. As a cavity is starting in the enamel layer of a tooth, if SDF is applied, it can arrest the cavity and stop the cavity from progressing into the second, softer layer of tooth, called dentin. SDF can sometimes save a tooth from having to have a filling. If you have SDF treatment, we’ll check at each visit using X-rays and visual examination to see if SDF might need to be re-applied to keep the cavity arrested. It's important to understand that SDF may not be a one-time treatment; it may require re-application for maintenance. Also note that silver diamine fluoride turns black on the teeth once it's applied. It can be an effective way to stop cavities and protect teeth, but not everyone will choose to use SDF on more visible areas of the teeth. At Peak to Peak Dental Hygiene, we'll always discuss treatment options with you so you can make the best, informed decision for your oral health needs.