Preventive Dentistry at Dothan Cosmetic Dentistry

Every flawless smile we create here at Dothan Cosmetic Dentistry is built upon a strong foundation of preventive care. With the services outlined below, Dr. Geoff Gaunt and our team can drastically lower your chances of developing the most common dental problems so we don’t have to fix them later. That way, you can spend less time at the dentist and more time simply enjoying your smile! Has it been more than six months since you last visited the dentist? If so, contact us in Dothan, AL to schedule an appointment today.

Checkups & Cleanings

When it comes to preventing tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and more, checkups and cleanings are simply the gold standard. With them, our team can learn everything we need to protect your smile and safeguard its appearance for years to come.

For a checkup (or oral exam), Dr. Gaunt will look at your teeth, gums, jaw, and dental work to try and catch the slightest signs of any problems. That way, he can intervene early and take care of you with conservative treatments. By coming to see him regularly, any issues you might have can be kept small and relatively harmless!

During your dental cleaning, our skilled hygienist will use sophisticated tools to remove harmful plaque and tartar from your gums as well as break up minor surface stains to keep your teeth nice and white! This treatment not only makes your smile look better, but it can also stop many problems before they even begin.

Dental Sealants

A dental sealant allows us to place an invisible barrier over a tooth in order to keep it protected from cavity-causing plaque, bacteria, and acids. For this, we’ll apply a clear, thin layer of a plastic-based substance directly to the teeth. We typically only need to use them for the back teeth, as their pitted and grooved surfaces make them the most difficult to clean (particularly for small children). They take minutes to apply and can provide up to 10 years of reliable cavity protection.

Nightguards for Bruxism

As many as 1 in 3 people unconsciously clench their jaw and grind their teeth at night, which is a condition called bruxism. Over time, this can wear down the teeth, make them more sensitive, and even cause them to break! To protect a patient while they sleep, we can have them wear what is called a nightguard to bed. This small, custom-made mouthpiece will place a barrier between the teeth to prevent them from grinding, keeping them safe.

Mouthguards & Sportsguards

Dental injuries are actually one of the most common type of sports injuries for adults and children alike, but fortunately, most of them can be prevented by wearing a protective mouthguard. Dr. Gaunt can provide you with your own custom-made sportsguard which will be specially designed to fit over your teeth. This will not only make it more comfortable, but it will also make it much better at defending your smile.

Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer is a very dangerous disease that is actually quite treatable when detected early, which is why Dr. Gaunt recommends that every adult should undergo at least one oral cancer screening per year. He can perform one as part of your regular checkups to make sure you’re never caught off-guard. The screening itself only takes a few minutes, but it could literally be those few minutes that save your life.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is found in nature, but you’ll also find it in most toothpastes and public water sources because it has been shown to help protect the teeth from decay and cavities. To make sure you stay cavity-free between appointments, we can provide you with a topical fluoride treatment at each of your checkups. It only takes a few minutes, is completely painless, and it will help keep your teeth strong until we can see you again!

Cosmetic Dentistry
& Much, Much More

Whether you’re seeking a stunning smile makeover or restorative assistance after injuring a tooth, Dr. Gaunt can lend a helping hand. Our practice is home to a wide variety of services that cover simple and complex needs alike! We take a cosmetic approach to everything we do as well, ensuring that our patients’ results both look and feel natural.