Oral Examination

Regular checkups and x-rays are fundamental for the best possible oral health. We follow the guidelines of the American Dental Association and recommend that each patient visit our office every six months for routine dental care. For those with specialized treatment needs, visits may be scheduled more frequently.

Professional Dental Hygiene

Regularly scheduled visits to Harmony Dental are an essential part of your dental health, preventing gum disease and keeping your smile healthy and bright!

Dental plaque and calculus can be removed through daily brushing and flossing, but there are places in your mouth that you cannot reach with a toothbrush and dental floss. A professional cleaning by our registered dental hygienist will ensure the very best removal of calculus in those hard-to-reach places.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease or periodontitis, occurs when the bone and gums around teeth become infected. Gums can become irritated as a result of the bacteria found in plaque, at times turning red, swelling, and bleeding easily. If the condition remains untreated, the gums separate from the teeth, causing spaces (also known as “pockets”) to develop between the teeth and the gums along the gumline. The result is the deterioration of gum tissue and jawbone, leading to tooth loss.

Scaling and root planing is a common treatment for periodontal disease. This method allows Dr. da Costa and a registered dental hygienist to provide a deeper cleaning between the compromised teeth and gums, preventing progression of the disease.

At-Home Dental Hygiene

Periodontal disease is one of the main reasons people lose their teeth. Periodontal disease affects three out of four adults over the age of 35 at some time in their lives. Thorough teeth brushing and flossing practices are the best ways to prevent cavities and periodontal disease.

Part of our dental practice at Harmony Dental is to instruct our patients regarding appropriate at-home dental hygiene to maintain optimal oral health and a healthy smile for life. Dr. da Costa’s team will guide you in all features of at-home dental hygiene, including proper brushing and flossing techniques in order to avoid tooth decay and maintain a healthy smile.

Fluoride Treatment

Dr. da Costa may decide that fluoride should be part of your overall treatment. Fluoride treatments re-mineralize teeth, stop developing cavities and make your teeth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque, bacteria, and sugars in the mouth.

Tooth Sealants

Food particles and plaque collect in the grooves of your teeth that often cannot be reached by regular brushing and flossing. In these cases, sealants can be applied, effectively “sealing” the deep grooves and protecting tooth enamel from plaque and resulting decay.

Dr. da Costa can provide this simple procedure in one visit, in which a tooth-colored acrylic “coating” is painted onto the surface of the tooth. Generally, sealants take only a few minutes to apply, wear well under ordinary circumstances, and can last several years before a reapplication is needed.

Mouth Guards

A variety of dental problems are the result of teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. Symptoms can include sensitive teeth, jaw pain, headaches and ear or neck aches. Teeth grinding can have serious, long-term effects, such as broken, chipped, or cracked teeth.

If you suspect that you grind your teeth during sleep, Dr. da Costa can help you discover whether or not a medical condition may be contributing to this habit.

Once teeth grinding has been diagnosed, Dr. da Costa can provide a custom fitted night guard for your teeth from a simple impression of your top and bottom teeth. Dr. da Costa will take special care to ensure that you night guard is adjusted to your unique needs and fits perfectly for maximum protection.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome

The TMJ connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull (temporal bone) in front of the ear. Caused by a variety of medical problems, symptoms of TMJ syndrome typically surface as pain in the jaw joint.
Certain facial muscles control chewing. Problems in this area can cause head and neck pain, facial pain, ear pain, headaches, a jaw that is locked in position or difficult to open, problems biting, and jaw clicking or popping sounds when you bite.

If you suspect you may be experiencing pain related to TMJ syndrome, arrange a consultation with our office. In many cases, treatment for TMJ symptoms is simple and can be done at home, without the need for surgery. The most severe cases may require treatment with splints, mouth guards or other traditional forms of TMD therapy.