How can we help you?
At the Vinton, VA dental office of Dr. Zachary Law, we strive to keep our patients educated and informed about the importance of proper oral health habits. We've found that patients who are well-informed and feel confident in their knowledge about their oral health have better outcomes, and we know that you want the best results possible from your dental care.
Your questions are important to us, and no question is ever too small. We are happy to answer your questions about our practice, the services we provide, your home-care routine, or dentistry in general.
We will take the time to explain the benefits of our services to help you make appropriate decisions about your oral health care. For your convenience, we've listed a few of the questions we hear most often from our patients, but please don't hesitate to contact our office at (540) 342-4945 if your question isn't listed here or you would like more information. A helpful member of our team will be happy to help you get the answers you need.
We are here to help, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Dental Exams & Cleanings
We suggest that you schedule dental cleanings twice a year. If you have a history of periodontal disease, our dental hygienist will most likely recommend more frequent cleanings.
During a dental cleaning, our hygienist will start by clearing away plaque and tartar that has built up on the surface of your teeth. It is important to get rid of this buildup because tartar left on your teeth will eventually harden, allowing the acids produced by bacteria to eat away at healthy dental enamel.
If these bacteria are not removed from your teeth and around your gum line, you can develop gum disease. Without proper treatment, gum disease can lead to serious oral health problems, including possible tooth loss.
It’s more important than ever to avoid gum disease because research has shown that there is a strong connection between the health of our mouth and our physical health. We have a much greater chance of eliminating the dangers of gum disease and associated problems with early detection and regular professional dental cleanings.
As part of every dental cleaning, our hygienist will carefully examine your teeth to look for signs of other problems that may be developing. When caught early, we can treat these concerns before they become serious and difficult to treat.
We recommend twice-yearly checkups because we want to try to stay a step ahead of any problems that may be developing with your teeth and gums. In many cases, decay can be present without you even being aware of it until you get a toothache. The sooner we find a cavity, the sooner we can remove decay and prevent it from spreading and causing pain and more damage to your tooth.
During the exam you will most likely see the dentist and hygienist. This allows us to do a thorough check of all aspects of your oral health, including teeth and gums. We will start with a visual check of your mouth, and note any changes that have occurred since your last exam. It’s important to take your overall health into account when updating your dental history. We will talk to you about changes to your physical health, including new medications you’re taking that may affect your oral health.
It may or may not be necessary for us to take x-rays during the checkup. This decision will be made based on your oral health history and changes noted during the exam.
Once the exam is complete, the dentist and hygienist will develop a treatment plan to address any problems that we find. If you have not had a professional dental cleaning, we will make an appointment for you and also schedule your next dental checkup.
We are a Delta Dental Premier Provider, and we participate in all 50 states. Here is a listing of the insurance plans we work with. If you don’t see yours listed here, please contact our office for more information.
AARP Delta
ACS Benefit Services
AFLAC
Aetna
Ameritas
Anthem
Assurant
BC/BS of Alabama
BC/BS of Illinois
BC/BS of North Carolina
Blue Care Dental Guardian
Cigna
Delta Individual Plans
Eastern Life
MetLife
Northeast Delta NEI Health Benefit Plan
Premier Access
Principal
Securian
Sun Life
Wellpoint
Bleeding gums are a sign that you may not be brushing and flossing properly and may also indicate that you already have some degree of periodontal disease. Your teeth bleed when you brush because the gum tissue around your teeth is inflamed and swollen and brushing irritates it. Brushing and flossing are the best ways to get mild gum disease under control, however, so we'll discuss ways to make this important health routine easier and more comfortable for you.
As you go through your day, bacteria build up on your teeth and around the gums and allow plaque to develop. Plaque is a sticky substance that coats the surface of your teeth. When you brush and floss, you can remove a certain amount of plaque, but even the most diligent at-home oral hygiene is unlikely to remove it all.
When plaque is allowed to remain on your teeth, bacteria can spread beneath your gums. This causes an infection to develop. It is important to catch this infection early because it can do serious damage to your teeth and may even result in tooth loss.
It's important to schedule regular professional cleanings with a dental hygienist. If your teeth are bleeding when you brush, we recommend that you make an appointment for a professional dental cleaning as soon as possible to prevent gum disease from spreading.