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Our Oral Health and Wellness Program
Upscale Comprehensive Dental Deep Cleaning & Hygiene Services Washington DC
Each Smile is Different. Check-Ups, Cleanings & Preventive Care Shouldn’t be ‘One Size Fits All.' We Deliver Exceptional Hygiene Care for Patients, ensuring optimal oral health & the long-term health of your dental restorations.
Studies have shown that most adults lose more teeth to periodontal (gum) disease than they do for any other reason, including cavities. More than seventy-five percent of adults in the U.S. have periodontal disease in some form at some time in their life.
Good oral hygiene, along with regular visits to the dental hygienist are the first line of defense against periodontal disease. Your visit to the hygienist includes a recall exam and, when indicated, X-rays. With early diagnosis of problems, more treatment options are available to you. In short, with good oral hygiene and regular prophylaxis, your teeth and restorations will last longer.
Call (202) 244-2101 to schedule your initial visit to Elite Prosthetic Dentistry or fill out our online form today.
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Meet Our Dental Hygienist: Domonique
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How Our Dental Hygenist Approaches Each Patient
More Resourceful Information About Our
Oral Health & Wellness Program
Why Our Oral Health and Wellness Program is the best choice for your regular hygiene care
At Elite Prosthetic Dentistry, we have a very strong record of our patients losing very few teeth over many years, and, even, decades. Within our Oral Health and Wellness Program, we establish a very defined hygiene program for each individual according to his or her periodontal health, thereby preventing gingival (gum) and bone breakdown. We supplement this program with tips for caring for your teeth, choosing the best oral hygiene products, and best nutrition for oral health. Overall, by monitoring each person’s ongoing restorative and periodontal situation to assure that initial problems do not expand into larger issues, we have a very high success rate for maintaining our patients’ intact dentitions. We bolster this program with a full mouth set of digital X-rays of individual teeth (not a panoramic film) every 2-3 years.
When you join our practice, we will assess your periodontal and restorative condition and initiate your personal Oral Health and Wellness Program, based upon an appropriate hygiene schedule in 3, 4, or 6-month intervals, depending upon your overall condition. With a more advanced periodontal breakdown, our hygienists will provide a thorough debridement of diseased tissues (also known as “root planing” and “deep scale and curettage), along with a more vigorous home care regimen. As your condition warrants, we will refer you to a Periodontist for definitive gum and bone support therapy.
Simply Radiant, Simply Natural
Dr. Gerald Marlin is a leading specialist in implant, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. One of the only prosthodontists with an on-site lab, Dr. Marlin has been voted “Top Dentist” by his peers for more than 20 years in a row in Washingtonian Magazine’s annual “Best Dentist” survey, and is considered the most experienced prosthodontist in the D.C. area.
Why Choose Dr Gerald Marlin?
- Voted Best DC Dentist 20 years in a Row by other dentists
- Works closely with his in-house technician to achieve custom aesthetics and a very precise fit.
- Provides crowns lasting over 35 years
- 3,600 surgically inserted and restored dental implants
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. This plaque is a colorless film of colonized bacteria, which sticks to your teeth at the gum line. The buildup of plaque on your teeth will cause decay and will also irritate your gums, making them red, tender and bleed easily. Over time, this may cause your gums to recede from your teeth and cause pockets to form. These pockets fill up with bacteria and ultimately, the supporting gum tissue and bone around the tooth is destroyed. Once the bone is destroyed, the tooth will become loose and ultimately be lost due to periodontal disease.
Preventing Gum Disease
The best way to prevent periodontal (gum) disease is through effective daily brushing and flossing as well as regular professional examinations and cleanings. Unfortunately, even with the most diligent home dental care, people still can develop some form of periodontal disease. Once this disease starts, professional intervention is necessary to prevent its progress.
Other important factors affecting the health of your gums include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Stress
- Clenching and grinding teeth
- Medication
- Poor nutrition
Tips for Caring for your teeth
How to Brush Teeth
While brushing the outside surfaces of your teeth, position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion several times using small, gentle strokes. Use light pressure while putting the bristles between the teeth, but not so much pressure that you feel any discomfort.
When you are finished cleaning the outside surfaces of your teeth, follow the same directions while cleaning the inside surfaces of the back teeth.
To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth. Don’t forget to gently brush the surrounding gum tissue.
Next you will clean the biting surfaces of your teeth by using short, gentle strokes. Change the position of the brush as often as necessary to reach and clean all surfaces. Try to watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you clean each surface. After you are done, rinse vigorously to remove any plaque you might have loosened while brushing.
If you have any pain while brushing or have any questions about how to brush properly, please be sure to call the office.
How to Floss Teeth
Periodontal disease usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is a very effective way to remove plaque from those surfaces. However, it is important to develop the proper technique. The following instructions will help you, but remember it takes time and practice.
Start with a piece of no-wax floss about 18″ long. Lightly wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand. Wrap the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the other hand.
To clean the upper teeth, hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Gently insert the floss tightly between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or try to snap it in to place. Bring the floss to the gum line then curve it into a C-shape against one tooth. Slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel light resistance. Move the floss up and down on the side of one tooth. Remember there are two tooth surfaces that need to be cleaned in each space. Continue to floss each side of all the upper teeth. Be careful not to cut the gum tissue between the teeth. As the floss becomes soiled, turn from one finger to the other to get a fresh section. To clean between the bottom teeth, guide the floss using the forefinger of both hands. Do not forget the backside of the last tooth on both sides, upper and lower.
When you are done, rinse vigorously with water to remove plaque and food particles. Do not be alarmed if during the first week of flossing your gums bleed or are a little sore. If your gums hurt while flossing you could be doing it too hard or pinching the gum. As you floss daily and remove the plaque your gums will heal and the bleeding should stop.
Caring for Sensitive Teeth
Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This should not last long, but only if the mouth is kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe. Another reason your teeth may become sensitive is changing toothpastes. Some toothpastes that contain bleach; may make your teeth sensitive. If your teeth are especially sensitive consult with your dental professional. We may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth.
Choosing Oral Hygiene Products
There are so many products on the market it can become confusing and choosing between all the products can be difficult. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.
- Automatic and “high-tech” electronic toothbrushes can be safe and effective as long as you replace the brush head as soon as the bristles are splayed-out and you do not have thin gingiva (gum tissue). Also, we recommend that electronic tooth brushes are not used when you have anterior crowns. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth thoroughly, but will not remove plaque. You need to brush and floss in conjunction with the irrigator. We see excellent results with electric toothbrushes. However, the brushes need to be replaced every 6-8 weeks. An incorrectly used electric toothbrush can cause gingival recession.
- Some toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle; this is used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are used improperly you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with our hygienist.
- Use of a Sulcabrush has been proven to help patients improve their oral hygiene program in the removal of plaque and reduction of gingivitis.
- The End-Tuft is a toothbrush with a unique brush head designed for manipulating around problem areas.
- Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Remember, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gum line so these products have not been proven to reduce the early stage of gum disease
- Anti-plaque rinses, approved by the American Dental Association, contain agents that may help bring early gum disease under control. Use these in conjunction with brushing and flossing.
Professional Teeth Cleaning Chevy Chase MD, McLean, Arlington, VA.
Daily brushing and flossing will keep dental calculus to a minimum, but a professional cleaning will remove calculus in places your toothbrush and floss have missed. Your visit to our office is an important part of your program to prevent gum disease. Keep your teeth for your lifetime.
Nutrition
Good nutrition plays a large role in your dental health. Brushing and flossing help to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong however a balanced diet will help to boost your bodies immune system, leaving you less vulnerable to oral disease.
How often and what you eat have been found to affect your dental health. Eating starchy foods such as crackers, bread, cookies and candy causes the bacteria in your mouth to feed on it, they then produce acids, which attack your teeth for up to 20 minutes or more. Also foods that stick to your teeth or are slow to dissolve give the acids more time to work on destroying your tooth enamel.
- Starchy foods: crackers , breads, cookies, candy
- Sticky/slow to dissolve foods: granola bars, chewy fruit snacks, dried fruit, potato chips, hard candy
- Sticky and starchy foods create less acid when eaten as part of a meal. Saliva production increases at mealtime, rinsing away food particles and neutralizing harmful acids.
Foods such as nuts, cheese, onions, and some teas have been shown to slow growth of decay, causing bacteria in the mouth.
Contact Elite Prosthetic Dentistry Today!
Elite Prosthetic Dentistry welcomes patients from Bethesda, Arlington, and other nearby communities in Maryland and Virginia. Schedule your appointment by calling (202) 244-2101 or filling out our online form today.