General and Preventative Dentistry in Wellington
Did you know that by maintaining a regular schedule of dental care and being treated for minor problems as soon as they appear, you can keep your teeth beautiful and healthy for your whole life? More than half of all Americans are missing at least one tooth and 40 million Americans are missing all of them. While some patients are likely to wind up with missing or damaged teeth due to heredity, most people can protect and maintain healthy teeth by never missing an appointment for preventative care.
Although Dr. Sergio Rauchwerger
is a specialist in “prosthodontics,” the dental specialty focusing on aesthetic restoration and replacement of missing teeth, he is also an expert at providing general and preventative dentistry.
From your very first visit with Dr. Rauchwerger, he and all his staff are interested in making your experience a positive one by really listening to any concerns you might have and by explaining each step of your treatment as it progresses. Just coming in for a cleaning and examination? We’ll also make sure you know how to properly care for your teeth at home.
Here are some of the general and preventative dental treatments we offer to all our patients coming to us from Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres, Golden Lakes, Haverhill, Palm Springs
or the West Palm Beach area.
Dental Cleanings
At first we use an ultrasonic device to clean off larger areas of hardened plaque (also called “tartar”) on your teeth. (An ultrasonic device creates sound waves that are beyond the range of human hearing.) Once this is done, your hygienist will use hand tools to clean away smaller pieces of tartar. The hand mirror she moves around your mouth enables her to see hidden areas to ensure that every crevice is clean. As she cleans, she will wash away loosened particles with a spray of water and a suction device. Next comes the polishing with a slightly gritty paste that has a pleasant taste. Each surface of your teeth will be smoothed with this paste. Minor staining can be eliminated with this polishing.
Dental X-rays
When you receive x-rays, you are allowing your dentist to look below the gum line, between the teeth and into the jaw bone to see if any problems are developing. When Dr. Rauchwerger performs an examination, x-rays allow him to detect various types of issues so they can be addressed before they become serious. Like these problems, for example:
- Cavities forming between teeth or under fillings or crowns
- Bone loss that could lead to eventual tooth loss
- Infections in teeth or bone
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Tumors or cysts
- Permanent teeth placed in the wrong position
- Inadequate space for one’s full set of permanent teeth to grow in properly
- Complications with placement of roots or nerves in the jaw
As you can see, there are so many problems that can be spotted early when x-rays are taken on a regular schedule.
Dental Examinations
It might seem like Dr. Rauchwerger simply looks over your teeth when he performs one of your regular examinations, but he is doing much more than that. He will start the exam by checking each tooth for any signs of decay. Every area of prior dental treatment, such as fillings, crowns, bridges or dental implants, will be examined to ensure that the work done is still in good condition. He will look at every part of your mouth, lips and face for any signs of abnormalities. As he does so, he will look for any signs that could indicate other health problems, such as diabetes or cancer. These conditions and others may be detected through small signs that may show up in the mouth. If you have any questions about your dental health or treatment plan, this is the time to bring them up.
Fluoride Treatment
When you are receiving your preventative care, Dr. Rauchwerger may recommend fluoride treatment. This treatment has proven to reduce the incidence of cavities. For young patients and for others who may be especially prone to cavities, fluoride treatments are often recommended. A fluoride solution may be painted directly on the teeth or the patient may bite into a mouthpiece filled with a fluoride gel.
Oral Cancer Screenings
During each cleaning, your hygienist will pay attention to any signs that might indicate cancer. During your examinations with Dr. Rauchwerger, a more thorough examination will be performed. He will be looking for sore or white spots in the mouth that do not heal, growths on the tongue, throat or roof of the mouth, or discolored areas. Finding one of these symptoms will not necessarily indicate cancer. There are many other reasons you could get a sore or discolored area in your mouth. That’s why it is important that you maintain a regular schedule of dental visits to let your dentist evaluate them. However, if you have any concerns about sore or hard spots or unusual growths in your mouth, please call us immediately. If you are a smoker, it is even more important that you monitor the health of your mouth.
Should you happen to be on a limited budget, it might seem expensive to keep to a regular schedule of examinations and cleanings. In fact, it is the least expensive method of preserving your teeth. Here are the reasons why:
Regular cleanings and examinations
reveal small problems that are very economical to treat.
When teeth are neglected for an extended period of time, there’s a chance for cavities to turn into abscesses.
If your teeth are not cleaned regularly, it is very likely that you will lose bone in both your upper and lower jaws. When bone around your teeth is lost, your teeth will begin to loosen in their sockets and may fall out or require extraction.
Cleaning your teeth regularly helps maintain the health of your gums. Healthy gums grow snugly around your teeth which protects both the teeth and the gums themselves.
You have a much better chance of preventing toothaches and infections that keep you up all night or require that you miss work or your favorite activities. This is when dental work becomes expensive.
With regular care, it’s possible that you may never experience a toothache, abscess or gum infection for your whole life. And it’s possible that you may never lose a tooth as a result of decay or bone loss. That’s a very worthy goal!
Special Offers*
If you are a new patient at Smile Designs, we would like to make this special offer to you to help you get started. See us for a complete examination, x-rays, and cleaning while the cost will be just $99. You’ll be able to find out if you need any treatment to bring your dental care fully up to date. To get started, simply call our office at (561) 798-7807 and ask to schedule your first visit.
About Dr. Sergio Rauchwerger
While Dr. Sergio is a fully trained and experienced general dentist, he furthered his education to gain certification as a prosthodontist at Harvard University. This means that he is expert in dealing with very complex cases of tooth loss, cosmetic issues and loss of function in the mouth or the jaw. This certification required three extra years of education and practical experience.
Dr. Sergio Rauchwerger began his dental education at the Central University of Venezuela Dental School in Caracas, Venezuela. Next, he traveled to Harvard University to obtain his Master of Medical Science (MMSc) and Certificate in Prosthodontics. He completed his education at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine.
He served as a respected faculty member at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine from 1999 to 2008 and as an adjunct professor from 2008 to 2012.
Dr. Rauchwerger began his private practice in 2005. He is pleased to offer both general dentistry and prosthodontics to this area of Florida, where he is the only dentist with this specialty.
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General & Preventative
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Call (561) 798-7807 3975 Isles View Dr. Wellington, Fl 33414- Mon - Fri
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