General Dentistry
Preventative Oral Health & Dental Cleaning - Portland & Falmouth, Maine General Dentist
Experience the best that Dentistry has to offer...
Smile! You’re about to discover how you can have that perfect smile you’ve always dreamed of.
At A Perfect Smile, we have the tools and the technology to improve the health and beauty of your smile... easily, comfortably. You’ll be amazed at what we can do.
Your Comfort is Our First Concern
From the moment you enter our office, you’ll know you are in the right place. We are committed to providing you with a comfortable and enjoyable experience and the best service and dentistry possible.
You can trust Dr. Nelson and our team of caring professionals to help you look and feel your best.
Don’t wait any longer to get your healthy and beautiful smile! Call today to schedule your appointment.
Dental Health
Diets low in certain nutrients reduce resistance to oral and dental infections, that is, periodontal disease (gum disease)
and decay. A healthy immune system is essential to controlling periodontal disease.
The consumption of sugar, especially in sticky forms or in a baby bottle while sleeping, contributes to the rapid development of dental decay.
The trace nutrient, fluoride, may not be adequately supplied by bottle or municipal water supplies throughout the southern Maine area. Supplementation with oral tablets and topical application will reduce the incidence of dental decay by more than 60 percent.
Together, a balanced diet, daily use of fluoride, effective brushing and flossing and sensible eating habits can reduce the risk of or even prevent infectious dental disease.
Prevent Tooth Decay
Fluoride has been a great benefit to patients of all ages in helping prevent dental decay. Regular brushing and flossing lowers the chance of developing “cavities.”
At A Perfect Smile, we know that the most decay–prone areas of teeth are the grooves and depressions on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, which require further preventive care.
To prevent decay, a plastic–like coating called a sealant should be painted on the chewing surfaces of all the back teeth. Studies have shown that sealants can reduce tooth decay by as much as 90% to 100%, making this a valuable service to our cusotmer throughout southern Maine.
The American Dental Association recommends, and Dr. Nelson agrees, that sealants be placed as soon as the first adult back teeth come in at age 6 or 7. Sealants should continue to be used as each adult back tooth comes into the mouth. All back teeth that need to be sealed are present by age 13. Sealant application is simple, fast and painless.
Some Dental Problems Are Easy To See – Plaque!
One of the easiest problems to spot is a build–up of plaque. Plaque is the soft, sticky layer of bacteria, which is constantly forming on the teeth.
Usually, it is invisible to the naked eye, but when a person is not brushing adequately, it can build up to where it appears to be a thick, whitish coating on the teeth at the gum line. If not removed, it can lead to gum disease.
Another potential problem, which is easy to spot, is missing teeth. Many patients Dr. Nelson sees assume that if they are still able to eat, they are okay.
But very often, losing just one tooth can lead to the loss of support, and teeth begin to drift into the empty space, causing a change in the bite. It also forces the remaining teeth to carry an additional load, sometimes past their ability to adapt. In most cases, when even one tooth is lost, the remaining teeth suffer and are more likely to be lost as well.
The Best Technology
Dr. Nelson offers one of the latest technological advances in dentistry with digital radiography (X–rays). A sensor is placed in the mouth, and a computer generates an image in 30 seconds as opposed to the general four to six minute wait time for images taken on dental film. These X–rays can also be enhanced on the computer and enlarged.
Not only are they friendly to the environment, they are safe for our patients as well. Digital radiographs reduce radiation exposure by 90 percent!
We also utilize an intraoral camera, which can project an image of your tooth onto a monitor, so you can see the problem in a magnified version and how we can correct the issue. It can also identify problems that may not be detected by the general means of examination, including cracks in your fillings or fractured teeth.
Did you know that half of cavities found in your teeth can go undetected by current diagnostic techniques? A Perfect Smile now offers a new diagnostic method that can more accurately define caries in teeth.
Dr. Nelson offers a unique service that can detect caries at the earliest stage. The DIAGNOdent Laser Caries Detector is over 90 percent accurate in detecting even the smallest lesions that don’t even appear on X–rays! Early detection enables us to better preserve and protect your teeth.
Request more information to get started with our general dentistry services today!
