Dr. Barker and Team love helping their patients take care of their smiles with preventive dental care.
The ultimate goal of preventive dentistry is to help reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease and infection and for early detection of dental problems. Local Athens dentist Dr. Lane Barker offers a full range of preventive dental care services at Magnolia Dental Spa, including:
Perhaps the best way to stay informed about your dental health is to see a dentist on a regular basis. Dr. Barker recommends that his patients see him for healthy dental check-ups and hygiene maintenance visits 2-4 times per year.
During your dental examination visit, Dr. Barker will take a close look at the teeth, gums and oral soft tissues to look for early signs of dental infection, wear or trauma. He will also review digital dental x-rays to detect tooth decay or bone loss.
Dr. Barker may use larger digital x-rays or 3D imaging (CBCT) to evaluate the jawbone levels in closer detail, or to monitor the eruption of permanent teeth and wisdom teeth in children and young adults.
‘Periodontal’ refers to the gum tissue and bone that surround and support the teeth. During your examination appointments, Dr. Barker and our dental hygienists will measure the gum levels around the teeth to look for ‘pockets’ that are unusually deep, bleeding or inflamed, an indication of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is very common and is responsible for most adult tooth loss. It begins when harmful bacteria cause an infection below the gumline. Eventually, the infection will continue into the underlying jawbone and cause the teeth in the affected area to become loose.
Learn more about Periodontal Disease and Periodontal Therapy »
In the U.S., oral cancer kills one person every hour of the day. (oralcancerfoundation.org)
Over the past 10 years, oral cancer has been on the rise. Early detection is critical for successful treatment.
At your regular dental examination visits, Dr. Barker will examine the tongue, cheeks, lips and oral soft tissues to look for early signs of oral cancer. Changes in the oral tissues, such as white, red or dark spots, unusual swelling or rough patches or, a chronic sore throat are all potential warning signs of oral cancer.
That ‘squeaky-clean’ feeling after having your teeth cleaned is not only pleasant, there are a number of good health reasons to stay on track with your regular hygiene visits.
During your dental cleaning, you Magnolia Dental Spa dental hygienist will use instruments and polishing aids to clean the tooth surfaces above the gum line to remove dental plaque and hardened deposits of calculus, or tartar. If your dental hygienist spots any areas that are difficult for you to keep clean with regular brushing and flossing, she will show you techniques and demonstrate cleaning aids to help you access those hard-to-get-to spots.
A professional teeth cleaning not only removes dental plaque and food debris from the mouth and tooth surfaces, it also helps to keep harmful bacterial levels to a minimum. Strains of dental bacteria that cause periodontal disease have been linked to complications in systemic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
Dental fluoride is a mineral that interacts with tooth enamel to help make the tooth surface more resistant to decay. Fluoride has been added to public water supplies for over 70 years to help reduce the incidence of tooth decay. Generally, most toothpastes also contain fluoride.
Dr. Barker may recommend in-office fluoride treatments for children to help reduce the risk of cavities, or for adults that are experiencing a high level of tooth sensitivity. (Fluoride can help form a protective layer in areas with gum recession and sensitive exposed tooth surfaces.)
Swallowing too much fluoride can cause health problems, especially for very young children. Keep the toothpaste out of reach; young children should only be given about a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste for brushing and should be closely supervised. Be sure to ask our Dr. Barker or your pediatrician about the recommended amount of fluoride for your child.
Watch the American Dental Association® Mouthhealthy.org video about Dental Fluoride »
Young teeth often have deep pits and grooves that are nearly impossible to clean with regular brushing alone. A dental sealant is a thin dental material that is painted on the chewing surface of your child's molars and pre-molars. The smooth adhesive material ‘seals’ these areas to make it easier to keep the tooth clean and free of harmful bacterial plaque.
Dr. Barker generally recommends dental sealants for your child when the first molars erupt (around age 6) and on second molars that appear around age 12. He may recommend sealants for other primary or permanent teeth, or for adult patients with teeth that have deep pits or grooves that are hard to keep clean.
Watch the American Dental Association® Mouthhealthy.org video about Dental Sealants »
The strongest defense against tooth decay and gum disease is consistent home care, including brushing at least two times a day and flossing once a day.
It is especially important to brush at night before bedtime. During sleep, our saliva flow slows down, creating the perfect harbor for harmful bacteria in the mouth to organize and form acidic toxins that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing before bedtime helps to keep the mouth as clean as possible to disrupt these bacterial processes.
Visit 2min2x.org » for great tips on teaching your children to brush for 2 minutes, twice a day.
Dr. Lane Barker is a general and cosmetic dentist and is the practice owner of Magnolia Dental Spa of Athens, Georgia. If you have questions about preventive dental care for your family, please Contact the Magnolia Dental Spa Team.