We recommend that all patients, even young children, see a dentist for cleanings and exams every six months. These visits are vital for ensuring good oral health and wellbeing. Regular checkups allow us to clean bacteria and plaque away from areas that are hard to brush and give us an opportunity to look for any developing issues. During your visit, we may also recommend dental sealants or an oral cancer screening. The goal is the same—to provide you and your family with advanced preventive care.

DENTAL CLEANINGS & EXAMS

We are happy to welcome patients of all ages, and we love working with young people. When it comes to children’s dentistry, our goal is to help young patients develop healthy oral hygiene practices. We also want to make sure young people learn to look forward to visiting the dentist year after year. In short, we want to avoid the negative associations with oral health care that many kids keep with them well into their adult lives. Instead, we create positive associations, so your child will grow up looking forward to visiting the dentist. In addition to basic, preventive dental care, we offer a wide range of treatment options geared toward young patients, including protective sportsguards and braces.

CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY

Gum disease is one of the most common oral health conditions in the US, and it is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. Preventing gum disease is always ideal, and we perform screenings for this oral health concern as part of every dental checkup. We complete periodontal charting, so we know as soon as possible if there is an increase in the depth of the pockets between teeth and gums as this is a common warning sign of gum disease. If you have mild gum disease, gingivitis, more frequent cleanings may be adequate to improve your oral health, but for more severe cases, we may recommend deep cleaning through processes called scaling and root planing as well as antibiotic therapy.

GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

Oral cancer claims one life an hour on average, and that’s just in the US! Researchers at the Oral Cancer Foundation recommend early diagnosis to start reducing the numbers of annual deaths associated with oral cancer. At Breckinridge Dental & Orthodontics, oral cancer screening is part of every six month dental exam. Our goal is to provide the earliest possible diagnosis, so our patients have the best chances to receive effective treatment. In addition to offering screenings during your appointments, we encourage you to let us know right away if you notice any concerns that may indicate oral cancer, including:

 Changes in the color or texture of soft tissue
 Hard lumps or bumps below the soft tissue
 Swelling in face or neck
 Chronic sore throat or hoarse voice

ORAL CANCER SCREENING

A dental emergency, like any other urgent healthcare situation, can happen at any time. If you’re struggling to determine what to do after breaking a tooth, losing a crown, or while experiencing serious pain, you can call the Breckinridge Dental & Orthodontics team. In our Richardson dental office, we do our utmost to provide same day care for those patients experiencing dentistry emergencies. Our goal is to relieve pain and start renewing your oral health as soon as possible, so you can find lots of new reasons to keep smiling. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team right away during an orthodontic or dental emergency, and we’ll start repairing your smile immediately.

EMERGENCY DENTISTRY

If you’re an athlete, you know how important it is to have all the right protective gear. Every sports uses slightly different gear, of course, but one item they all have in common is a sportsguard. A sportsguard will help you protect your teeth, tongue, and lips during play. They even have the power to reduce the severity of concussion. While you can find basic sportsguards in any sporting goods store, the highest level of protection comes from one that was made just for you. Our Richardson dental office is happy to offer personalized sportsguards for active patients. We also offer custom nightguards to help patients who struggle with teeth grinding and clenching.

SPORTSGUARDS AND NIGHTGUARDS

At every appointment, Dr. Nathan Coughlin and Dr. Christine Coughlin complete a thorough visual exam of your mouth to determine your oral health needs. As important as these exams are they can’t tell us everything we need to know. That’s why X-rays are so important. They show us more than a visual exam ever could enabling our team to create a detailed diagnosis and treatment. What’s more, as technology has advanced, the X-ray process has become safer, more comfortable, and more convenient.

DIGITAL X-RAYS

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is one of the most prevalent oral health problems today. Left untreated it results in a range of problems that include bleeding gums, tissue loss, and even tooth loss. With laser-assisted periodontal therapy, our team treats periodontal disease and improves oral health. We also use our soft-tissue laser for gum recontouring, a procedure that removes excess gum tissue from smiles.

Do you want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Nathan Coughlin and Dr. Christine Coughlin? Call Breckinridge Dental & Orthodontics today to speak with one of our friendly team members. They will happily answer any questions you might have in addition to reserving your visit.

SOFT TISSUE LASER