Oceans 2003 | Navigating the Ocean of Business

Dr. Gregory J. Daniels DDS has again focused his efforts toward patient education about dental care. Dr. Daniels is a firm believer in preventive dental care, and he is making a difference in the quality of life for his patients. Dr. Daniels explains that this is the area of dental care that focuses on procedures and life practices to help a patient prevent the beginning or progression of oral disease. Dr. Daniels goes on to say that it includes home dental care performed by the patient as well as dental care and education by the professional dental staff at Dr. Daniels’ office in Hinsdale, Illinois.

Dr. Gregory J. Daniels provides services in several aspects of dental care to help patients avoid dental disease or to catch it in its early, more treatable stages. The foundation of preventive care is oral hygiene care that starts at home. Building upon that, preventive dentistry services offered at Hinsdale Dentist helps each patient maintain healthy teeth and gums. Dr. Gregory J. Daniels DDS often looks for early signs of periodontal disease, dental decay, and other troublesome changes in the mouth’s soft tissue that might indicate the possibility of oral cancer.

Preventive dentistry should never harm patients when done correctly. At times, dentists will take extra precautions when a patient has a medical condition that could be affected by some of the procedures. Your dentist needs to be aware of certain medical conditions, such as mitral valve prolapse, which need to be treated with prophylactic antibiotics. According to Dr. Gregory J. Daniels, allergies to any of the medications or materials used in preventive dentistry are rare.

Preventive care in Dr. Gregory J. Daniels’ office routinely includes cleaning of the teeth and a dental examination of the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth, including x-rays and a screening for oral cancer. Newer techniques to diagnose periodontal, or gum disease, include computerized devices that measure bacterial content in the mouth. Sometimes Dr. Gregory J. Daniels may prescribe medications to help prevent dental disease, including anti-inflammatory mouthwashes to prevent periodontal problems.

Preventive procedures offered by Dr. Gregory J. Daniels for children include the use of fluoride supplements and applications. Dr. Daniels also uses dental sealants on his young patients, forming a barrier between tooth crevasses and bacteria to help ward off dental decay. Dr. Daniels will look for malocclusions, and at times he will refer a patient to a dental specialist, such as an orthodontist, to correct a child’s bad bite. Dr. Gregory J. Daniels DDS recommends that an orthodontist evaluate children by the time they reach their eighth birthday.

Other important building blocks of preventive dentistry offered by Dr. Gregory J. Daniels are helping his patients learn to eat right, care for their teeth, even receive education about the cessation of smoking. At-home procedures performed by patients that help ward off dental disease include regular and proper brushing, flossing and sometimes use of mouth rinses and at-home fluoride applications. Dr. Gregory J. Daniels and the staff at Hinsdale Dentist also educate patients about proper brushing and flossing techniques.

These brushing techniques can be summarized as follows:

•  In order to properly brush the teeth, use a soft nylon toothbrush with round-ended bristles.
•  Place the bristles along the gum line at a 45-degree angle to cover the tooth surface and gum line.
•  Use a gentle, rolling back-and-forth motion, with two to three teeth being brushed at a time.
•  Brush the inner surfaces of your teeth and tilt the brush vertically to brush the front teeth. Ideally, you should use a back-and-forth motion to brush the biting surface of the teeth and the tongue.

Flossing removes plaque from between teeth and at the gum line. Dr. Gregory J. Daniels suggests using an 18-inch strip of floss wrapped around the middle fingers of each hand. Use the thumbs to move the remaining inch or so of floss that is between the teeth. By keeping the floss taut, your index fingers can guide the floss between the lower teeth with a gentle zigzag motion, while contouring the floss around the sides of the teeth. Floss each tooth with a clean section of the floss and ensure that the floss goes under the gum line.

Dr. Gregory J. Daniels emphasizes that good dental care should begin in a baby’s first year and continue through adulthood and on. Even before teeth erupt, parents can clean infants’ gums after feeding. Not many people realize that 75% of Americans have some form of dental disease; therefore consistent visits to the dentist are particularly crucial for adults. Seniors often reap the benefits of training in proper techniques of denture care and cleaning, which include brushing the replacement teeth. Those who have problems moving their hands because of arthritis, for example, also benefit from tips for adapting toothbrushes for easier handling.

For more information contact Dr. Gregory J. Daniels DDS at hinsdaledentist.com or at 630-655-8815.