General Family Dentistry in Des Moines, IA

Personalized & Comfortable Lifelong Dental Care

Preventative Dentistry in Des Moines & Urbandale, IA

Oral diseases can cause pain, discomfort, poor appearance and loss of self-esteem. Luckily, problems like cavities and gum disease are largely preventable with the proper care. Practicing preventative dentistry protects your beautiful smile and reduces your risk of developing serious dental problems.

The prevention of dental disease and the pursuit of oral health includes both professional services offered at McDonald Family Dentistry and at-home oral hygiene habits.

Preventative Dentistry Services

Oral Exams and Cleanings

Routine oral exams and cleanings are the foundation to preventative dental care. Our dental hygienists perform thorough gentle cleanings using techniques and instruments that can remove bacteria even your toothbrush can’t reach. Our hygienists also strive to educate you about the best ways to take care of your teeth at home, based on our knowledge and your individual diagnosis. After your cleaning, you should feel more prepared to take care of your oral health in between visits.

Oral exams identify signs of dental problems early, when they are more easily treated with less-invasive means. During an exam, Dr. McDonald performs a thorough visual examination of your mouth, including your teeth, gums and other soft tissues, looking for any abnormalities.

X-rays

Regular X-rays allow Dr. McDonald a more comprehensive view of your teeth, including a look at the insides and spaces between your teeth, where decay often develops. Though X-rays are usually not needed at every visit, they should be performed approximately once a year.

Fluoride Treatments

Professional fluoride treatments are also an important piece of some preventative dentistry routines. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens teeth and prevents cavities. Dr. McDonald can apply a highly concentrated fluoride solution in the form of a varnish, gel or foam to your teeth if he feels it would help you.

What Is Your Role In Preventative Dental Care?

Preventive Dentistry in Urbandale, IA

In between professional preventative care visits, you should be diligent about at-home oral care. Your daily oral hygiene habits play a crucial role in preventing dental health problems.

Most importantly, you must brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day, using the techniques you have learned from our team. Using a soft-bristled brush and fluoridated toothpaste, you should make small circular motions to clean every exposed tooth surface. It should take you approximately two minutes to clean every tooth. When flossing, you should slip the piece of floss in between every tooth, guiding it from the top of the tooth to below the gumline. Once you’ve brushed and flossed, you can finish off by rinsing out the dislodged bacteria and food particles from your mouth with a mouth rinse.

Careful, consistent brushing and flossing keeps your mouth clean and healthy and helps reduce the risk of tooth loss due to dental disease.

CUSTOM VS STORE-BOUGHT MOUTH GUARDS

Individuals who participate in contact sports are at increased risk for dental injuries. For example, boxers, football players, and hockey players can experience tooth loss, injuries to the soft tissues within the mouth, and other dental trauma while engaged in their sport. While most athletes in these and similar sports recognize the benefit of mouthguards to help prevent injuries, not all know that mouthguards are not created equal. Some individuals opt for store-bought mouthguards, which are available at sporting goods stores and other retail locations. However, these guards do not offer the security, comfort, and effectiveness of customized mouth guards from a dentist. Dr. McDonald provides performance mouthguards that are:

Comfortable: Many off-the-shelf mouthguards are made of brittle, uncomfortable material at fixed sizes. Customized mouthguards are created to your exact dental specifications. Also, athletes who opt for customized mouthguards can take advantage of a secure fit without the fear of their mouthguard falling out or becoming displaced at critical times during the game.

Effective: All mouthguards claim to provide protection, but how do you determine the level of shock absorption provided by store-bought mouthguards? Your preventative dental needs should be entrusted to a skilled dentist with experience producing highly effective mouthguards for patients.

Customized: Store-bought mouthguards often require several steps to help mold the material around the teeth, in an effort to provide users with a better fit, such as microwaving the mouthguard or placing it in warm water to make it more malleable. However, these methods leave a great deal of room for error, especially for individuals who are unfamiliar with the process or unaware of the importance of a truly custom fit. This issue is eliminated with customized mouthguards at McDonald Family Dentistry. Our team takes the guesswork out of creating your unique mouthguard, which gives patients the ability to focus on what is important.

Contact Our Practice Today

For more information about preventative dentistry or to schedule your next exam and cleaning, we invite you to call McDonald Family Dentistry or send us an email.

Why Choose McDonald Family Dentistry

  • Long history of serving the community’s dental care needs
  • Convenient office location
  • Wide range of services to meet every patient’s goals
  • High-tech, state-of-the-art technology
  • Competitive fees

A Down-To-Earth
Family Practice

Under the leadership of Dr. McDonald, our entire team goes above and beyond to create an environment that is down to earth and relaxed. Thanks to our office’s beautiful natural surroundings and friendly, laid-back atmosphere, even the most anxious patients report feeling comfortable. Come see the difference for yourself!