Dental Hygiene

Top Rated Dental HygienistsHygiene Related Dental Procedures, Options & Details

River Landing Dentistry and our team of dental hygienists have the experience and credentials you’re looking for when considering a new dentist for your regular checkups and dental hygiene.

“Very friendly and welcoming staff. I had a great experience and will continue to come back.”

Justin D.River Landing Dentistry Patient

A Top Rated Dental Hygiene Practice Serving Charleston with locations in Daniel Island and Nexton.

Table of Contents

Our Featured HygienistsCheckups & CleaningsGingivitis Periodontal TherapySchedule Online Now

Our Featured HygienistsBe relaxed and comfortable throughout your visit.

Kasey
Licensed Dental Hygienist

Christie
Licensed Dental Hygienist

Kellen
Licensed Dental Hygienist

Abigail
Licensed Dental Hygienist

Macie
Licensed Dental Hygienist

Baylee
Licensed Dental Hygienist

Kaci
Licensed Dental Hygienist

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Checkups & Teeth Cleaning

Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining oral health. During these visits, dentists can spot on time problems like periodontal disease and dental decay and solve them with conservative and straightforward procedures. For example, a small cavity can be easily fixed with a tooth-colored filling. But if it’s left untreated, it can get deeper and deeper until it ends up affecting the dental pulp, and at this stage, a root canal treatment is required.

While examining your teeth and gums, dentists will also evaluate your oral hygiene. They will indicate a professional teeth cleaning if they find tartar or dental plaque build-ups, and explain in detail how to brush and floss if necessary. After the examination, you’ll have some X-rays taken to ensure that all tissues are safe and sound – sometimes cavities are too recent to be detected clinically.

Once the evaluation is finished, you’ll have time to ask questions and talk about your concerns. Do you want a cosmetic enhancement of your smile? Are you thinking about teeth whitening or composite bonding? Any issues can be addressed during a check-up visit.

We advise patients to visit the office at least once a year for dental check-ups. These visits are an enormous contribution to your oral and overall health – and make you save a lot of time and money as well!

Video 01:00 | Brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and eating balanced, healthy meals are important to maintaining a healthy smile. Regular dental visits are also extremely important to prevent and treat oral disease.

Periodontal Treatments

A bright smile is not only about having the perfect pearly whites. Periodontal health plays a crucial role in oral health, and it’s an important indicator of the patient’s overall wellbeing. Besides, periodontal disease can compromise the future of any dental restoration – that’s why we always insist on how important it is to keep oral hygiene after treatments.

How can you keep your gums healthy? Well, the most important factor is prevention. Having a good oral hygiene routine and regularly visiting the dentist for check-ups are essential to maintaining periodontal health. The best way to avoid gums disease is to keep your teeth and gums plaque-free with a meticulous brushing and flossing routine. But if this routine starts failing for some reason, it is vital to visit the office to have your smile checked. Dentists can spot early signs of periodontal disease and indicate prophylactic cleanings or periodontal treatments if it’s already too late for prevention.

The first stage of periodontal disease is known as gingivitis or gums disease. At this stage, the condition is reversible, and with professional cleanings and good at-home maintenance, all signs and symptoms can disappear. However, if this condition is left untreated, it can turn into periodontal disease, which can have severe irreversible consequences. Many treatments are available to deal with periodontal disease, but once it has begun, it can only be stopped – not reversed. So it is crucial to detect the signs on time to prevent real damage.

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What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis (commonly known as gums disease) is the early stage of periodontal disease. It can be described as the inflammation of the gum tissue, typically triggered by the bacteria present in dental plaque. After colonizing the teeth surface, bacteria keep spreading till they reach the gums. This tissue quickly reacts and gets inflamed, showing the typical signs of Gingivitis: tender, red, swollen and prone to bleeding gums.

This condition can be easily treated with Gingivitis therapy. At River Landing Dentistry, we offer this therapy and advice all patients with signs of gum disease to consider it. In only one appointment, our dentists eliminate the cause of the disease and prevent its progress into a more severe condition. Gingivitis can be reversed only a few days after being treated. But if it’s ignored, it can become a disease much more difficult to control.

Gingivitis therapy is a straightforward procedure: it’s nothing but a deep dental cleaning. It is cheaper and less invasive than other therapies necessary when the condition advances, so we strongly recommend our patients take a proactive approach towards this condition.

Video 01:00 | If your gums are tender, swollen or bleed easily when flossing, you may have gingivitis—the early stage of gum disease. Fortunately, gingivitis can be prevented by following a good oral health care routine and by regularly visiting a dentist. Find out more about how to reduce the risk of gingivitis and, if needed, how to treat it.

What are the signs of Gingivitis?

Patients can easily spot the early signs and symptoms of gum disease.

Swollen, tender, bright red gums.

Persistent halitosis (bad breath).

Spontaneous bleeding

If patients notice any of these signs between check-up visits, we strongly advise them to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at River Landing Dentistry!

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OR CALL (843) 242-0645 OR TEXT US TO GET STARTED.

Periodontal disease

As mentioned before, gum disease is a reversible condition and can be easily treated during its first stages. However, if patients fail to recognize its signs and skip their check-up visits, this disease can progress and cause irreversible damage.

The advanced form of Gingivitis is known as periodontal disease. The main difference is that, at this point, we can only control the disease – not cure it. Without proper treatment, the disease can advance and start affecting all periodontal tissues until it reaches the bone tissue in its final stages. If it isn’t controlled, this disease can end up causing tooth mobility and even tooth loss.

Periodontal disease can also result from multiple factors, including habits like smoking, systemic conditions and the intake of certain medicines. Still, the most common cause is bacterial build-up.

How to treat late-stage periodontal disease?

At River Landing Dentistry, we advise patients with late-stage periodontal disease to undergo a procedure known as “scaling and root planing” (or SRP). SRP is the most effective treatment for this disease before considering other more invasive alternatives that involve surgical procedures. This therapy consists of a deep cleaning that removes dental plaque and tartar from the teeth, focusing on the deposits accumulated below the gum line.

General dentists or specialists perform this procedure. SRP can be done with either ultrasonic or manual scalers, and it usually requires more than one session. Patients will recover oral health once the treatment is completed, usually combined with antibiotic therapy. And at the same time, they will have less risk of developing coexisting systemic complications associated with periodontal disease, like increased risk of strokes and heart disease.

Video 01:00 | Gums that are red, tender or swollen may indicate periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. Because you can have periodontal disease without knowing it, it’s important to visit your dentist for periodontal screening.

What Is Periodontal Maintenance?

The treatment of periodontal disease requires a strong commitment from patients. Once the condition is under control, they should follow a strict and meticulous oral hygiene routine. In addition, patients will require recurrent special gum and bone care procedures, known as “periodontal maintenance”, to keep their mouth healthy.

Can periodontal disease be cured?

We always make clear that periodontal therapy can only stop the progress of the disease, not cure it – and that’s why prevention is so important. Patients will work closely with their dentist at River Landing Dentistry to coordinate the best treatment plan. They will need to visit the office more often than regular patients, but this effort will ensure they are on the right track for recovering oral health.

Schedule Online Now

OR CALL (843) 242-0645 OR TEXT US TO GET STARTED.