Oral Hygiene & General Dentistry

Committed to Protecting Your Natural Smile

When it comes to your oral health, the best way to protect your smile is through preventative care. At Taconic Dental Arts, we offer comprehensive general dentistry services for all families in our community. Our dentists provide you with the highest quality of general dental services, ensuring you get the care you need.

We’re responsible for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide variety of conditions, disorders, and diseases affecting the teeth, gums, and face. Explore our guide to learn how we can improve your overall health.

Oral Hygiene & Regular Dental Visits

Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine at home is vital to keeping your smile healthy and beautiful. Poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of diseases like gum disease and tooth decay. At Taconic Dental Arts, our experienced hygienists are here to answer any questions you may have and can give you advice on how to keep your smile clean and healthy.

We recommend keeping up with your regular dental appointments to ensure your smile stays healthy and beautiful. Even if you take good care of your teeth, there are hard-to-reach areas that can be home to harmful bacteria. That’s why our dental team will gently clean every surface of your teeth to ensure they’re free of disease.

Scheduling regular dental appointments and maintaining a thorough at-home oral hygiene routine will aid in the prevention of any unwanted dental problems.

Deep Cleanings: Periodontal (Gum) Therapy

If gum disease is caught early on and hasn’t damaged structures below the gum line, a professional cleaning will help. However, if the pockets between your gums and teeth are too deep, scaling and root planing may be necessary.

The deep cleaning procedure is completed in two steps:

Scaling is when our dental hygienist removes all the plaque and tartar built up above the gum line, making sure to clean all the way down to the bottom of the pocket.

Root planing consists of smoothing out the tooth roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth.

Keep in mind that scaling and root planing may take more than one visit to complete and often requires a local anesthetic.

Root Canal (Endodontic) Therapy

If you leave a cavity untreated, the bacteria can further travel into your tooth until it has reached the root canal. Endodontic therapy, or root canal treatment, involves removing the infected dental pulp in the tooth and filling it to strengthen the tooth and restore its functionality. Root canal therapy can save your natural tooth and relieve any pain you’re experiencing while stopping the infection from spreading and affecting your other teeth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do teeth cleanings whiten teeth?

In some cases, a routine cleaning may help your teeth appear whiter. We’ll polish your teeth and clean off minor stains, helping you achieve a brighter smile. If you have minor or recent stains, they may be lifted through professional cleaning.

If you’d like your teeth to appear even whiter, we offer a teeth whitening treatment that’s personalized just for you. Teeth whitening can significantly brighten your teeth and boost your confidence.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is inflammation and infection of the gums and supporting bone structure. If left untreated, it can cause permanent jawbone destruction and possible tooth loss. Periodontal disease has been linked to increased risk of conditions such as heart disease, strokes, respiratory disease, prostate cancer, and preterm delivery.

Signs of periodontal disease include:

Bad breath
Red or swollen gums
Sensitive teeth
Loose or shifting teeth
Tender gums
Pus coming from around the teeth
Pain when chewing
Bleeding gums

Visit Taconic Dental Arts

For all your general dentistry needs, our experienced dental team can provide you with the care you need. We’ll make sure your smile is healthy by thoroughly cleaning and restoring your teeth. To learn how we can help, contact our office in Rutland, VT at (802)-773-1020 or fill out our online contact form.