Dental Cleaning and Exam in Madison, AL

 Gum disease can cost you your smile and significantly impact your overall wellness, including your lungs, heart, and more. Your dentist in Madison, AL, takes a preventive approach to your oral health to help lower your risks for this condition. But if you are diagnosed, we are here to help.

To lower your risks, you must visit your dentist twice annually for checkups and teeth cleanings to keep your smile healthy and prevent issues like gingivitis and periodontitis (gum disease).

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum diseasean is an inflammation or infections of the soft tissues around the teeth, including the periodontal ligaments. In its early stage, we refer to gum disease as gingivitis. Without intervention, curable gingivitis advances to periodontitis, which is only treatable.

With periodontitis, the infections and inflammation have penetrated the bone. At this point, your dentist takes measures to save your teeth and prevent systemic health complications. However, you can live with gum disease with an excellent dental care regimen.

What Causes Gum Disease

Many factors may contribute to gum disease, but the primary culprits include:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Lack of dental care
• Smoking or tobacco use

If you have gum disease, you might notice bleeding gums when cleaning your teeth, bad breath, gum recession, red and inflamed gums, and loose teeth as the disease progresses. Should you see any of these symptoms (or oral health changes that do not improve), it’s crucial to reach out to your dentist in Madison, AL, for an assessment.

Gum Disease and Your Overall Health

Untreated gum disease can lead to a whole host of health complications, including:

• Tooth loss
• Low birth weight
• Premature labor
• Heart health issues
• Lung health issues

Studies also connect gum disease to severe complications like Alzheimer’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, gum disease may cause severe health issues that have yet to be studied. In other words, your gum health is crucial to your overall well-being and health.

Gum Disease Treatment in Madison, AL

Gum disease treatment is based on your level of disease, meaning it is always customized to meet your specific needs.

Treatments may include scaling and root planing, a method that removes bacteria, tartar, and plaque below the gumline. Scaling and planing encourage your gums to adhere better to your teeth, eliminating pockets where new bacteria can collect.

Other methods may include routine teeth cleaning schedules, at-home care instructions, and topical antibiotics.

Because periodontitis is staged, your dentist may refer you to a trusted periodontist if your disease is significant or complex.

Gum Disease in Madison, AL

If you suspect gum disease or have not been to the dentist in a while, we encourage you to arrange a dental visit today. We assess your periodontal health at every checkup and teeth cleaning, which means we can catch gum disease in the gingivitis stage.

Call us today to get started or if you have any questions about our services, including gentle and judgment-free periodontal treatment.

We serve all locations, including Madison, Huntsville, Athens, Decatur, and the surrounding areas. Additionally, we are happy to work with CareCredit financing.

You should visit your dentist every six months for checkups and teeth cleanings. However, every person is different, and you may require more frequent visits to stay healthy. For generally healthy patients, every six months has been shown to reduce preventable oral health conditions and issues, such as:

• Tooth decay
• Gingivitis
• Gum disease
• Tooth infections
• Bad breath
• Tooth stains

If you already have an oral health condition or are undergoing treatment, your dentist in Madison, AL, will create a more customized treatment schedule to address your needs.

Your Checkup and Teeth Cleaning in Madison, AL

Your checkup is a thorough visual examination that considers the health of your teeth, gums, and oral tissues. We also screen you for oral cancer. Periodically, the dentist takes x-rays to monitor emerging oral health issues or changes over time.

If the dentist identifies oral health issues, we discuss them with you and outline all potential treatment options. We want you to be involved in maintaining your smile and to be armed with the knowledge to do so.

A teeth cleaning is noninvasive and finds you relaxing in the dental chair while the hygienist cleans your teeth and gums. We finish with a polish!

Is It Time for Your Next Dental Checkup and Teeth Cleaning?

To learn more or to schedule a consultation with the dentist, call our office today at (256) 724-3530 to get started.

Yes, you can replace your old metal amalgam fillings with tooth-colored alternatives, though the decision should be made carefully in consultation with your dentist. 

According to the American Dental Association, intact amalgam fillings in good condition typically don't need removal unless there's decay beneath the filling or other dental issues present. However, many patients choose to replace their metal fillings with tooth-colored options for aesthetic reasons or personal health preferences.

Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings, also called composite resin fillings, offer several advantages. These modern materials are color-matched to your natural tooth structure, creating a seamless appearance that blends invisibly with your smile. Unlike metal fillings, tooth-colored options don't contain mercury or other heavy metals, which may appeal to patients concerned about long-term exposure.

Additionally, composite fillings typically require less removal of healthy tooth structure during placement compared to amalgam fillings, helping preserve more of your natural tooth.

Get Tooth-Colored Fillings in Madison, AL

Ready to explore your options? Contact Dr. Andrew Henninger and the West Madison Dental team to discuss whether tooth-colored fillings are right for you. We'll evaluate your current fillings and help you make an informed decision about your oral health.

Since every dental insurance plan is vastly different, it's a good idea to contact your insurance company directly to ask them that question. With that said, here are some general guidelines we see with dental insurance and how they cover tooth-colored fillings in Madison, AL. 

Dental Insurance 101

Most dental insurance plans offer a percentage of coverage for amalgam metal fillings, which is typically around 70 to 80 percent. This means you'll have a small out-of-pocket cost. 

Sometimes the coverage is the same for tooth-colored composite fillings; however, many dental insurance plans consider tooth-colored fillings to be more of a cosmetic procedure, even though most dentists are choosing to use composite resin over metal amalgam for fillings. 

If your insurance plan considers composite fillings to be a cosmetic procedure, they will generally only pay what they would for a metal filling, which leaves you with a higher out-of-pocket cost. 

Making High Quality Dental Care Accessible

At West Madison Dental, we never want to compromise using the best materials for our patients because of what dental insurance dictates. Our dentists practice with integrity and will always recommend the best treatment using the best materials for your smile and dental health.

We'll work closely with you to ensure that you can fit the dental treatment you need comfortably into your budget. 

Contact West Madison Dental at (256) 724-3530 if you have questions about your dental insurance or your payment options.