We recommend that you come in and see Dr. Brandt Jones and Dr. Michael Zendig every six months for your regular dental cleaning and exam. Our family dentists will be able to examine the state of your oral health and detect any potential problems that need to be addressed. Call Oakwood Dental today at 303-688-3860 to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam in Castle Rock, Colorado.
How to Prevent cavities 101
To prevent cavities, consistent oral hygiene is your best defense. Brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and floss daily to remove plaque from between teeth where your brush can’t reach. It is also important to limit sugary snacks and acidic drinks, as these fuel the bacteria that wear down tooth enamel. Finally, make sure to visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups to catch any potential issues before they become major problems.
Oakwood’s highly skilled dental hygienists act as the front line of preventive oral care, working primarily to clean teeth and screen for problems before the dentist sees you. Their main operation is “prophylaxis” (cleaning), where they use specialized tools like ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments to scrape away hardened tartar (calculus) and plaque that brushing misses, especially along the gumline. Beyond cleaning, they take diagnostic X-rays, apply cavity-preventing fluoride or sealants, and chart the health of your gums to check for periodontal disease. Crucially, they also serve as educators, tailoring advice on brushing and flossing techniques to help you maintain your oral health at home.
Oakwood Dental Technology
Modern dental offices have moved far beyond simple drills and film X-rays, embracing digital tools that make visits faster, more precise, and more comfortable. Digital X-rays now provide instant high-definition images with significantly less radiation, while intraoral cameras allow you to see exactly what the dentist sees on a screen in real-time.
Oakwood Dental also uses CAD/CAM technology (like CEREC) to design and mill permanent crowns in a single visit, eliminating the need for temporary caps and messy goop impressions. Additionally, laser dentistry is increasingly used for everything from treating gum disease to hardening fillings, often reducing the need for anesthesia and speeding up recovery time.
Same-day crowns rely on a system called CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) to restore your tooth in a single visit. After preparing your tooth, the dentist uses a wand-like camera to take a precise 3D digital scan of your mouth, completely eliminating the need for messy putty impressions. This data is sent to a computer where the dentist designs your new crown in a virtual environment to ensure a perfect fit. Once the design is finalized, an in-office milling machine carves the custom crown out of a solid block of color-matched ceramic in about 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the dentist to bond it to your tooth immediately so you can leave with a finished smile.