DentalWorkBlog

Routine Care

Did your phone just go reminding you to make that six-month routine follow-up to Horizon One Dental?  Thinking about putting it off another few weeks?  Think again!  Have you ever wondered why the need for a revisit every six months?  Simply put, it is routine dental care that will help you to achieve long term oral health and maintenance of your smile.  

Routine dental visits have more benefits than just a cleaning.  It is at these visits that your provider is likely to find any evidence of dental diseases including tooth decay, gum disease and larger periodontal problems, just to name a few.  Skipping that follow-up appointment can send you down a longer road of necessary services that could have been avoided with early identification and prevention. 

So, you have booked your appointment – what can you expect?  At Horizon One Dental you will receive a thorough examination of your mouth and smile, identifying any issues including decay of teeth, inflamed gums and other things negatively impacting your oral health.  Your provider will also examine your teeth for the degree of plaque and calculus on the tooth’s surface. 

What is plaque and why is it so important?  According to Delta Dental “plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. The bacteria in plaque cause tooth decay and gum disease if they are not removed regularly…”  If plaque is not removed through good dental hygiene at home and routine visits to the dentist’s office, it can harden on the teeth leading to the creation of calculus.  It is excess plaque and calculus that usually are associated with the onset of serious oral diseases.

During your visit, the hygienist will also perform a full evaluation of gum health, looking specifically for any deep pocket formations that may show separation between the teeth and gums, often signaling an oral issue.  In some cases, a patient experiencing gum problems may need a deeper cleaning to help prevent future gum disease.

Finally, your provider will evaluate the overall health of your mouth, tongue, and various soft tissues to ensure there is not an abundance of redness or swelling that could be caused by an oral issue.  After this thorough investigation, a care plan is created and discussed at length with the patient to ensure dental success for years to come.

What should you do after you leave the office?  Keep the good oral habits up!  Be sure to brush your teeth for at least two minutes, two times a day preferably with an electric toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.  Following that up with flossing at least once a day to ensure debris and plaque between the teeth is removed.  Finally, use a mouthwash to aid in the prevention of plaque formation and ensure fresh breath.

Here at Horizon One Dental, we are committed to helping you reach the smile you desire!  Give us a call to book your appointment today at (239) 267-7385.

Covid19blog

Dental Work and COVID-19

Like your favorite restaurants and attractions, dental offices are reopening for business as usual after months of only handling emergency cases due to restrictions put in place in response to COVID-19.  While dentistry is considered one of the highest risk professions for the coronavirus, offices like Horizon One Dental are now able to provide routine dental care including cleanings, fillings, and other various procedures once again.

You may be wondering how our office is ensuring the safety of its staff and patients during these times. “You’ll see some notable changes before and during your visit,” Dr. Marc Dadkhah, doctor at Horizon One Dental, noted.  “Our traditional waiting room looks a bit different, lacking its usual magazines and paper materials, a simple step we have taken to help control the spread of COVID-19.  Now and always, patient safety is our top concern.”

Additional measures and comprehensive infection control procedures are in place with all staff and team members.  These include frequent hand washing, the use of clean masks and gloves, and full disinfection of all services in the treatment rooms and reception area.  Other precautions including instructing team members to stay home if they’ve traveled to high-risk areas or if they have any COVID-19 related symptoms, the removal communal items that may be touched by multiple people throughout the day, and updated patient visit protocol including pre-visit temperature checks and a patient survey to assess your risk of exposure to COVID-19 have also been implemented.  Air purification systems have also been added to our waiting room area and patient treatment rooms for additional protection. 

If bringing a guest to your appointment, we respectfully ask them to remain outside the practice during your appointment. Exceptions will be made for children and patients needing assistance. In these cases, each patient will be limited to one guest.

We take the utmost pride in knowing that we are following the expert guidance from groups such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) in order to ensure that the safety of all who walk through our doors is our top priority.  You can rely on us to stay diligent and rigorous in these efforts to ensure your utmost safety.

“Know that we are here for you,” Dr. Dadkhah reports.  “We’ve got an incredibly safe and comforting environment to welcome you to for all of your dental needs.  We look forward to seeing your smile in our office soon.”  

Horizon One Dental is located at 8004 Summerlin Lakes Dr. Ft. Myers, FL 33907.  Our office hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  To book your appointment please call (239) 267-7385.