Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

Prevention


You can’t look and feel your best if your mouth is full of disease or infection; in the same way, your teeth and gums won’t function or look good if you’re not taking care of yourself in other ways. With our preventive services we will help you stay on the path to lifelong oral health. Today there is no reason a person can’t have their teeth for their lifetime.

Starting with a thorough cleaning, polishing, and examination of your teeth, we take the time to help our patients develop proper oral hygiene habits at home.  We will evaluate your hygiene and make adjustments to your routine as needed.  Dr. Melnick and our hygienists will also make suggestions for preventative measures to protect your teeth, gums and to protect against bruxism and Temporal mandible joint disease.

 Necessary x-rays are taken only as needed. If we feel that you are suffering from gingivitis or more severe gum disease, we may recommend an in office comfortable non-surgical treatment.  These measures can be instrumental in preventing a more aggressive bone loss and helping you to keep your natural teeth. We offer the following services to Encino.

Services

  • Cleaning (Hygiene)
  • Bite Guards Appliancesl
  • Patient Education and Training
  • Night Guards
  • Fluoride Treatments
  • Regular check ups
  • NTI Bite Appliances Sealants

Oral Cancer Screenings

  • During a dental exam, Dr. Melnick and our hygienist will check your neck and oral tissues for lumps, red or white patches or recurring sore areas.
  • Screening for early changes in the oral tissue can help detect cancer at a stage when it can be more successfully treated.
  • Smoking, especially combined with heavy alcohol consumption, is the primary risk factor for oral cancer.  In fact, this combination is estimated to be the most likely trigger in about 75 percent of oral cancers diagnosed in this country.
  • There are 37,000 deaths in the U.S. annually from this disease.

Read more about Oral Cancer Screenings

Sports and Tooth Injury Prevention

Each year 15 million dental injuries will occur. The injuries caused by sports and leisure activities are the most common, but there is one simple device you should never leave at home when at sports or recreation - Your Mouthguard!

A mouthguard can save your teeth, lips, jaws, tongue, and cheeks from serious injury, whether you strap on a helmet or face guard. A mouthguard provides protection for everyone, children and adults, men and women, you and old.

Read more about Sports and Tooth Injury Prevention

"I was convinced I was going to lose all my teeth. I owe my gratitude to Dr. Melnick for the smile thought I would never have."

Robin W. Cosmetician, Glendale