Preventive Dentistry in Agoura Hills
It's been a while since your last checkup. Nothing hurts, but you've noticed a little bleeding when you floss, or your child has a new molar coming in, or you've been waking up with a sore jaw. Situations like these bring many Agoura Hills families to our Thousand Oaks office. They are also the right time to start, or restart, a preventive routine. At 805 Dentistry, preventive care is the foundation of everything we do for patients of all ages. It helps us catch small concerns early, while they are easier to manage.
Preventive dentistry means regular care that keeps your teeth and gums healthy and finds problems before they turn into bigger treatment needs. At its core are routine dental exams and professional cleanings. These visits remove the plaque and tartar that brushing and flossing at home can miss. They also give us a chance to look closely at every tooth, your gums, and the soft tissues of your mouth.
We also offer cavity detection, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and oral cancer screenings as part of preventive care. Our office provides 2D and 3D dental imaging, so we can see areas the eye alone can't. For Agoura Hills patients who want one dental home for the whole family, our general dentistry team, led by Dr. Dar Radfar, DDS, sees children and adults alike.
Patients come to us for preventive care for many different reasons, and each one shapes how we tailor the visit. A parent might want a child's first steady dental routine. We see young patients ages 4 to 14 through our pediatric dentistry care, and parents are welcome in the treatment room. Sealants and fluoride are common steps for this age group because they help protect the chewing surfaces of developing teeth.
Adults often come in because of gum changes, such as tenderness or bleeding. When gums need more than a routine cleaning, we provide scaling and root planing and ongoing periodontal maintenance, with a board-certified periodontist on staff. Other patients play sports and need a custom sports mouth guard. Some grind their teeth at night and benefit from a night guard. Because our practice has a strong focus on TMJ and sleep apnea treatment, a routine visit can also be a good time to mention jaw clicking, morning headaches, or sleep concerns.
What happens during a preventive dental visit?
A preventive visit usually includes a thorough exam, a professional cleaning, any needed imaging, and a conversation about what we find. We begin by reviewing your health history and any concerns you've noticed. Then we examine your teeth, gums, bite, and soft tissues, including an oral cancer screening.
Here is what you can generally expect:
- A review of your dental and medical history
- A careful exam of teeth, gums, and soft tissues
- Digital imaging when it is appropriate for your needs
- A professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar
- Fluoride or sealants when they make sense, especially for children
- A clear explanation of any findings and your options
If we find something that needs attention, such as a cavity, our team can often handle it in the same office. This is part of what makes us a one-stop shop for many families. We also have an on-site dental lab. For patients who feel nervous about dental visits, we offer options such as nitrous oxide and other sedation choices, with a board-certified dental anesthesiologist on staff.
How do I care for my teeth between visits?
Daily brushing, flossing, and keeping up with your scheduled checkups are the best ways to protect the results of each preventive visit. Before you leave, we'll talk about any areas that need extra attention at home. For example, we might point out a spot where plaque tends to build up, or explain how to clean around a dental restoration.
If you've received a sports guard or night guard, we'll explain how to clean and store it. If your child received sealants, we'll check them at future visits to make sure they are still protecting the teeth. Patients in periodontal maintenance follow a schedule we plan together based on their gum health. Between visits, if a tooth breaks or pain flares up, our general dentistry office offers emergency appointments.
How can I pay for preventive dental care?
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and welcome self-pay patients, so preventive care is within reach for most Agoura Hills families. Many PPO plans place a strong emphasis on routine exams and cleanings. Our team can help you understand how your coverage applies before treatment begins.
If you don't have insurance or need more treatment than you expected, we offer financing to help spread out the cost. Our goal is to make it easier to keep up with regular visits, because steady preventive care is one of the best ways to protect your smile. To schedule your next checkup, contact our Thousand Oaks office. We look forward to caring for you and your family.