Preventive Dentistry – Cary, NC
Simple Steps Toward Lifelong Oral Health
At the core of every healthy, long-lasting smile, there’s one crucial principle – prevention. At the dental office of Dr. Darren Koch, our team makes every effort to stop and treat dental problems at their earliest stages, protecting patients from severe damage and cost later. We also provide extra support against common ailments to ensure teeth and gums stay strong and healthy. The whole family is welcome to start experiencing friendly, skilled dental care with us - just call us today to schedule your next visit for preventive dentistry in Cary.
Why Choose Darren G. Koch, DDS, PA for Preventive Dentistry?
- Dental Team That Helps You Feel at Home
- Dentist That Respects Your Time
- State-of-the-Art Dental Technology
Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings
Although daily oral care at home is undoubtedly important, your dental checkups and teeth cleanings are also critical for keeping your smile healthy in the long term. Why? This semiannual appointment helps to ensure that oral problems don’t get a chance to cause irreparable damage. During this visit, Dr. Koch carefully examines your teeth, gums, and other oral structures to make sure that you’re free from infection and decay. If he finds something amiss, he can resolve the problem right away—before it causes you pain or a more serious problem down the road. In addition, we take time to perform a thorough dental cleaning, removing hardened plaque from areas that are difficult to reach with your hygiene instruments at home. This stops future problems from developing in the first place!
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Oral Cancer Screenings
Did you know that nearly half of adults diagnosed with oral cancer this year won’t survive five more years? That staggering statistic occurs because patients aren’t being diagnosed early enough, severely limiting their chances of successful recovery. Here in Cary, our dental team strives to reduce this number, which we can do with routine oral cancer screenings. If we locate factors that indicate the presence of cancerous or precancerous cells, a biopsy can be arranged for more concrete results.
Tell-tale symptoms that may indicate the presence of oral cancer include:
- Sores in the mouth that bleed easily and/or are slow to heal
- Red or white oral patches
- Lumps, thickened areas, and crusty areas in the mouth
- A constant feeling of something being stuck in the throat
Learn More About Oral Cancer Screenings
Gum Disease Treatment
Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is a very common ailment that may seem harmless in the beginning, only to cause lasting, damaging consequences like tooth loss later on if left untreated. Thankfully, our team can provide fast diagnosis and effective gum disease treatment. Routine screenings identify the presence of the disease in the earliest stages, and services like in-depth cleanings (root scaling and planing) and therapy with our state-of-the-art soft tissue laser will be recommended depending on the severity of your condition.
Common signs of gum disease that patients can watch out for include:
- Excessive bad breath
- Bleeding gums
- Overly red or tender gums
- Teeth that shift/feel looser
- A change in the way your bite fits together
- Teeth that appear longer over time
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Mouthguards / Sportsguards
As Dr. Koch knows, playing sports is a benefit for all ages. However, no matter the game, the age, or skill of the players, dental trauma is always a risk. Fortunately, Dr. Koch can help largely eliminate the chance of dental injuries by providing athletes with custom-made mouthguards. Custom designed to fit each patient, they allow for easy breathing and speaking while offering better protection than any oral appliance you’ll find online or at the retail store.
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Nightguards for Bruxism
Bruxism (more commonly known as teeth grinding) is a common habit. This constant, aggravating motion of the teeth typically occurs at night, and if left untreated, patients may experience a whole host of frustrating symptoms, including painful headaches and oral damage to enamel and soft tissue. If Dr. Koch or his associates recognize signs of bruxism during your regular dental checkups, our team can provide a custom oral appliance known as a nightguard. This device is designed to block tooth movement and minimize the harmful effects of grinding as patients rest easy.
