General & Preventative Dentistry
A regularly-scheduled dental checkup is one of the best preventative tools in the fight against oral disease. The professional team at Lockhart Dentistry will conduct a thorough cleaning of your teeth, removing harmful plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. We carefully check for areas that need additional care, and give tips on the best way to brush, floss, and care for your teeth to keep them as bright and healthy as possible.
Cleanings/Prophylaxis
Your hygiene appointment is commonly referred to as a checkup or prophylaxis and it is your first line of defense against oral disease. But, it’s actually more than that. It has been said that your mouth is the gateway to your overall health and that couldn’t be more true. There is a significant connection between good oral health and your overall health. Patients that have moderate to severe gum disease are at increased risk for heart and stroke. Your cleaning appointment or Prophylaxis, as it’s technically known, removes harmful plaque and tartar, and also screens for cavities, gum disease, systemic diseases that show up in the oral cavity, oral cancer, and TMJ.
Fluoride
Fluoride has been studied for more than 60 years and is completely safe, and it reduces cavities by 35% in adults and 40% in children. The benefits however don’t stop there. however. Fluoride is the only known substance to strengthen and harden teeth.
At Lockhart Dentistry, our hygienists apply a fluoride varnish after they thoroughly clean your teeth. It is a safe and simple procedure that only takes a minute.
Sealants
The most common area for tooth decay is in the deep grooves and pits of the chewing surfaces of the back molars. Sealants prevent decay by sealing the pits and grooves so that bacteria can’t find it’s way into them and grow.
Digital X-Rays
Digital x-rays utilize sensor instead of traditional photographic film. With digital x-rays, a diagnostic view of the tooth appears instantaneously on a computer monitor. This image can be enhanced and enlarged with our dental software so you can see what the dentist sees. Using digital x-rays also decreases the amount of radiation a patient is exposed to by 70%!
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral Cancer was once thought to be only a risk for people who heavily smoked or drank alcohol. The truth is that oral cancer is growing at an aggressive rate and kills one person every hour of every day. The signs of symptoms of oral cancer can be hard to detect with the naked eye, and many cases are not diagnosed until they are well into the late stages of development. Dr. Lockhart offers a solution to this frightening problem. He uses the Velscope technology to detect cancer cases that can’t be seen by eye alone. Early detection can increase the rate of cure to nearly 90%. The best part is that this test takes less than 3 minutes and is absolutely pain free! You can call 317-449-8037, or fill out our Request an Appointment form to schedule your appointment today!
