Oral Health

Oral Health

Looking for Oral Health in Desoto? For an appointment at CFD Smile of Desoto call our office today at 972-224-5397 or make an appointment today.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is an unpleasant condition that's cause for embarrassment. If you're concerned about bad breath, see your dentist. He or she can help identify the cause and, if it's due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it. Regular checkups will allow your dentist to detect any problems such as periodontal disease, a dry mouth or other disorders. Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, yeast infections of the mouth, and dental cavities. Maintaining good oral hygiene, eliminating periodontal disease and scheduling regular professional cleanings are essential to reducing bad breath.

If you have an extensive buildup of plaque, an invisible layer of bacteria, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial toothpaste or mouth rinse. Antiseptic and antibacterial mouth rinses and toothpastes can be beneficial in reducing plaque and gingivitis and also have breath freshening properties. Instead of simply masking breath odor, some of these products have been demonstrated to kill the germs that cause bad breath.

Cold Sore Treatment

Cold sores are a common nuisance. Although there is no cure for the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) that causes them, cold sore breakouts can be managed and avoided. Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, appear around the lips and mouth and are often associated with red, swollen and irritated skin around the breakout areas.

Symptoms of Cold Sores:

  • Pain around the mouth
  • Fever and sore throat
  • Swollen neck glands
Even though no cure exists for the cold sore virus, CFD Smile of Desoto can provide you with antiviral medication to control the outbreaks and relieve any pain or irritation you are experiencing. You can also avoid developing cold sores by avoiding sharing utensils and drinking cups with others that may be infected.

For advice and treatment of cold sores, call CFD Smile of Desoto at 972-224-5397.

Causes of Cold Sore Outbreaks:

  • Stress
  • Chapped Lips
  • Extreme sunlight exposure
  • Physical exhaustion or illness
Even though no cure exists for the cold sore virus, CFD Smile of Desoto can provide you with antiviral medication to control the outbreaks and relieve any pain or irritation you are experiencing. You can also avoid developing cold sores by avoiding sharing utensils and drinking cups with others that may be infected.

For advice and treatment of cold sores, call CFD Smile of Desoto at 972-224-5397.

Comprehensive Exams

The mouth is often considered a window to the rest of the body because many other illnesses first present themselves as changes within the mouth. As a result, a comprehensive oral exam is recommended each time you visit a new practice to serve as a benchmark of your overall health. 

During an examination, your dentist will perform a visual examination as well as a more detailed dental examination using one or more X-rays to detect:
  • New cavities
  • Weaknesses in already installed crowns, fillings, and bridgework
  • Gum or bone recession
  • Teeth deterioration due to abnormal bite, bruxism, or TMJ
Your dentist will also perform a visual and digital examination of lymph nodes throughout the face and neck, looking for any abnormalities, pain or flexibility within the nodes that could be markers for disease. Likewise, a similar examination of your lips, gums, tongue, and other internal mouth surfaces will be conducted. Again, this is to seek out any signs of illness or disease.  

Since the comprehensive dental exam is designed to set a baseline of your health and to catch any early signs of serious illness that may be otherwise undetected, your dentist will be on the lookout for the following illnesses which can be detected during a comprehensive oral evaluation:
  • Diabetes
  • Leukemia
  • Blood pressure
  • Cardiovascular problems
  • Oral cancer
  • Immune abnormalities
  • Sinus problems
With a comprehensive exam every six months, we can manage small dental problems before they grow into larger, more complicated issues. Keep up to date with thorough dental checkups at CFD Smile of Desoto. Call us at 972-224-5397 to schedule an appointment.

Gentle Professional Cleanings

Everyone over the age of four or five should visit their dentist for professional teeth cleaning at least twice a year. It's a procedure for the removal of tartar that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, especially in areas that are difficult to reach during routine toothbrushing. Professional cleaning includes an examination of your teeth and gums, tooth scaling (removal of plaque) and tooth polishing. It involves the use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth. At CFD Smile of Desoto, we provide comfortable, gentle hygiene cleanings. If we find a cause for concern, we may recommend a deep gum cleaning to remove tartar below the gum line, smooth out surfaces where plaque builds up and eliminate bacterial infection.

Important Reasons to Get Professional Cleanings

  • To detect possible health risks, such as oral cancer and gum disease
  • To prevent tooth loss
  • To maintain good physical health
  • To eliminate bad breath
  • To have a brighter, whiter smile

The Teeth Cleaning Process

  • Physical exam, using a small mirror to check teeth and gums for any signs of gingivitis or other concerns
  • Removal of plaque and tartar, using a scaler
  • Gritty toothpaste cleaning, using a high-powered electric brush
  • Expert flossing by the dental hygienist
  • Rinsing, to get rid of any debris
  • Applying fluoride treatment, to help fight against cavities for several months
Regular, professional teeth cleaning is vital to maintaining your oral health. Call CFD Smile of Desoto at 972-224-5397 today.

Mouth Guards

Custom-fit mouth guards are prescribed and created by a dental professional from thermoplastic material and are based on a detailed mold taken of your mouth and teeth. They can be made for either sports or for nighttime teeth grinding and are created differently depending on the intended use. They're highly personalized, as your dentist can adjust the thickness of the mouthguard, and they're designed to fit perfectly in your mouth with no adjustments needed. 

First, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. This is generally done using a dental putty that forms to all the crevices of each tooth and creates an exact mold of your smile. The mold is then sent to the lab, where the actual mouthguard is created. The structure is made by layering superheated plastic to precise specifications and is then cooled to create an extremely durable piece of dental wear.

Because custom mouth guards are so precisely made, they are able to provide you with optimal safety and comfort. The level of protection afforded by custom-fitted mouthguards is unrivalled by any other mouthguard, and their durability is enhanced by the snug shape, which hugs each tooth closely, eliminating unwanted movement.

For more information on customized mouth guards, please call CFD Smile of Desoto at 972-224-5397 today.

Night Guards

If you're experiencing chronic headaches and migraines because of involuntary night-time teeth clenching, let CFD Smile of Desoto help you with a night guard. A night guard is a thin, transparent device that is worn over the biting surface of your teeth while you sleep to prevent contact between the upper and lower teeth. Night guards have also proven to be an effective remedy for patients who are suffering from the effects of grinding and clenching their teeth while sleeping.

Oral Cancer Screening

The dental community is the first line of defense in early detection of oral cancer. The goal of oral cancer screening is to detect mouth cancer or precancerous lesions that may lead to mouth cancer at an early stage — when cancer or lesions are easiest to remove and most likely to be cured. When found at the early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80-90% survival rate. Early detection is imperative!

Laser Gum Therapy

Periodontal or gum disease is an infection of the supporting tissues and bone that hold your teeth in place. In laser gum therapy, your dentist uses a laser to access and remove the inflamed gum tissue from around the root of the tooth. This technology replaces cutting of the gum tissue with a scalpel and does not require stitches. When the infected tissue is removed and the root is exposed, the root scaling begins. This involves scraping off the tartar and plaque built up below the gumline and around the root. The dentist then smooths the root with instruments to remove any rough spots that might attract bacteria and cause future infections. The area between the gum and the root can then regenerate during the healing process.

Share by: