DENTAL CLEANINGS & EXAMS

Your family is in the best hands with our gentle and skilled Dental Hygienists.

The easiest way to a healthy, happy smile is by prevention. With our professional dental team, you and your family are in good hands. We will help calm anxiety, provide routine checkups and preventive cleanings, help you learn the best habits, and provide sophisticated treatment options when needed. At Porteous and Burke Family Dentistry, your experience and your smile are our top priorities.

Proper Home Care Dental Routine

Your teeth are very important to your quality of life. Aside from having a beautiful smile, teeth help you to speak correctly so that you can communicate with those around you. Teeth allow you to eat a healthy diet for good nutrition and wellness. Teeth also provide support and structure to your face. If teeth wear down or are lost, the appearance of your face is dramatically changed. Unhealthy bacteria that is found in decayed teeth and gums that bleed, are the SAME bacteria that are found inside bacterial plaques in blood vessels of the heart and brain. Research shows that having a high concentration of bad bacteria in your mouth can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Patients that have diabetes or other forms of immunosuppression are at greater risk for infections. Preventing dental disease for these populations is incredibly important. Knowing all this, wouldn’t you like to keep your teeth healthy so they last you a lifetime? At Porteous and Burke Family Dentistry, we know our patients are capable of taking great care of their teeth and their oral health, and we are ready to help you do that. The following recommendations will give you a solid foundation for keeping your teeth clean and healthy and smiling!

BRUSH & FLOSS EVERY DAY

One of the simplest and most important parts of maintaining good oral health is brushing and flossing your teeth every day. It is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day for at least 2 minutes. Always use a soft toothbrush, and we strongly recommend brushing with an electric toothbrush. In addition to brushing, cleaning the “sides” of your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach is equally as important. This is done best with floss or a waterpik.

There are other ways to keep your teeth healthy as well! Routine Cleanings and Exams are an important part of a healthy mouth. In some cases, our dentists may discuss Sealants, Fluoride, Mouth/Sports and Snoreguards to help prevent dental problems.

Cleaning & Exams

One of the most important parts in any complete oral care routine is a visit to our office! Visiting us regularly to get your teeth cleaned professionally and have a checkup to make sure that any issues are caught early and are treated effectively is vital to your oral health.

For more information about how to take good care of your teeth, give us a call today at 501-918-8331. Our experienced staff is happy to help.

Routine dental cleanings are very important when trying to maintain good oral health. At Porteous & Burke we advise our patients to schedule either prophy or periodontal maintenance cleanings regularly at 3, 4, or 6 month intervals depending on each individual's needs. We recommend routine dental exams including x-rays once a year during your cleaning appointment. Even though you brush and floss daily, and use toothpaste with fluoride, you can’t get to all of the plaque and tarter that is on your teeth. It hides in places your toothbrush and floss can’t reach.

Teeth Cleaning

People often say after visiting our office, “that was the best teeth cleaning I’ve ever had”. We use professional ultrasonic and hand instruments to gently and thoroughly scale off mineralized plaque (tarter) and plaque bacteria that has adhered to your teeth. Your hygienist can get into those hard-to-reach places between teeth and below the gumline to prevent cavities and gum disease. If your gums or teeth are sensitive, your hygienist will offer you topical desensitizing or numbing agents to keep you comfortable throughout the cleaning appointment. We spend time during your cleanings to show you areas in your mouth where you may not be aware that bacteria is hiding.

Digital X-rays

At Porteous and Burke Family Dentistry we use Digital x-rays rather than Conventional Dental x-rays. Digital radiographs reduce patient radiation exposure by over 75%! In addition to being healthier for patients, digital radiographs are healthier for the environment. Chemicals and waste produced by film images eliminated. Dental x-rays are your dentist’s window into your oral health, they give us so much valuable information to diagnose and treat your dental needs. Dental x-rays expose not only cavities, but many other potential issues such as bone loss from periodontal disease, tooth infections, tumors, cysts, and tooth position. In case of accident or injury involving your teeth, x-rays will show us the extent of your injury. In children, x-rays show if adult teeth are coming in the way they should or if there will be issues that can be treated before they become problematic for the child. Without x-rays, we just don’t see the whole picture, they are the basis for a diagnosing and treatment planning to help you maintain a healthy mouth and keep you smiling.

Porteous & Burke Dental Examinations

We take pride in the comprehensive exam and experience you will have at Porteous and Burke Family Dentistry. We start our exam with digital x-rays and high quality digital photographs. We want our patients to see exactly what we see. We will screen for oral cancer and evaluate the health of your TMJ. Your gums and bone surrounding your teeth will be examined. Your dentist will review with you any areas of concern such as periodontal disease, cavities, fractured teeth, wear, misalignment, or problems with existing crowns and fillings. We strive is to create a tailored plan that aligns with your oral health goals. By the end of your exam, you will have an in depth understanding of your oral health and any areas of concern or treatments recommended. The entire staff at Porteous and Burke Family Dentistry is knowledgable and happy to take time to answer any questions you may have throughout your visit.

Fluoride to Strengthen Teeth

Fluoride is a mineral like Calcium that can strengthen our teeth to prevent cavities, reduce sensitivity, and even help children develop stronger teeth from infancy! Living in the Bay Area, we often find parents are concerned about using Fluoride. Feel free to speak with one of our dentists if you have questions or concerns about Fluoride. Check out this article and video from the American Dental Association to learn more.

Porteous & Burke Review from GoogleMyBusiness

"My kids love going to the dentist! Can't think of a better compliment! The entire office makes a trip to the dentist a great experience for all three of my kids and to top it off they take great care of me as well! Couldn't be happier with our experience with Dr. Pam and Dr. Matt!"

Christina S.

Brush and Floss