long-term prevention

Preventative

Preventative dentistry at Chico Dental Design focuses on full body health and long-term prevention. Studies show that poor oral health is linked to heart disease and diabetes.  Therefore, by caring for your teeth and gums, you are caring for your entire body.

Our goal is to identify and resolve any current dental issues and work with you to reduce your long-term risks. This goes beyond a simple exam and regular cleanings. Our approach of “prevention first” will be apparent to you in our superb quality of care, attention to detail, and our technology and resources.

You’ll find that exams at our office are comprehensive and personalized. Dr. Hiersche believes it is important to give patients his full attention and work with them on an individualized care approach.

We will collect and review your dental and medical information, discuss with you your concerns, and perform a thorough mouth, neck, and head exam. We have state of the art tools available, including digital X-rays, intraoral cameras, specialized bacterial tests, and brand-new infrared lights that can check the internal health of your teeth without radiation.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that affects approximately 50% of our population. It increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular ailments. It is also one of the most preventable chronic diseases in the world.

Our specialized lab tests help us identify your personal risks for periodontal disease and other issues so we can reduce your risk. The CariScreen Caries Susceptibility Test is a one-minute bacterial test we perform in the office with a simple swab. This method uses ATP bioluminescence to identify oral bacterial load and has been proven to correlate with patients’ risk for decay.

Our periodontal lab test through MyPerioPath is a simple swish and spit saliva test that helps us to evaluate your risk for periodontal disease and determine a more specific way to evaluate and treat the disease.

After your exam is complete, Dr. Hiersche and you will go over the details and findings, so a long-term care plan can be created. He will discuss with you the various treatment options available and explain each treatment’s likely outcome and long-term prognosis so that you can make a decision that is best for you. We believe in empowering our patients with information.

We offer the following preventative treatments and screening tools:

Dental Exams
Cleanings and Hygiene
Digital X-Rays
Periodontal Disease Screenings (Gum Disease)
Oral DNA Swab Testing (My PerioPath)
Bacterial Swab Testing (CariScreen)
Mouth Rinses (In-office & at-home)

CariVU Transillumination Caries Detection
https://www.kavo.com/en-us/imaging-solutions/dexis-carivu-caries-detection

SonicCare Airfloss Irrigation
https://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-pe/philips-sonicare-airfloss

Air-Flow Handy Perio Cleaning
https://www.ems-dental.com/en/products/air-flow-handy-30

SonicCare Electric Toothbrush
https://www.usa.philips.com/c-e/pe/oral-healthcare.html

WaterPik Irrigation Device
https://www.waterpik.com