Infection Control in the Dental Office

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Infection control procedures are actions taken in health care settings to prevent the spread of disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommendations for dental office infection control. Your dentist cares about your safety and works hard to prevent the spread of infection. Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, drawer handles and countertops, have been cleaned and disinfected. Offices may cover some equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient.

Non-disposable items like the dental tools are cleaned and sterilized between patients. Disposable dental tools and needles are never reused. Infection control precautions also require all dental staff involved in patient care to use appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, gowns and eyewear when needed. After each patient, disposable gloves and masks are thrown away. Before seeing the next patient, everyone on the treatment team washes their hands and put on a new pair of gloves.

Your well-being is important to your dentist and dental staff. That’s why infection control procedures are in place at your dental office.

What about the new coronavirus?

On March 16, 2020, the ADA issued the following guidance to dentists regarding the COVID-19 pandemic:

 The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes the unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances dentists and all health care professionals face related to growing concern about COVID-19. The ADA is deeply concerned for the health and well-being of the public and the dental team.

In order for dentistry to do its part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the ADA recommends dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks. Concentrating on emergency dental care will allow us to care for our emergency patients and alleviate the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments.

As health care professionals, it is up to dentists to make well-informed decisions about their patients and practices. The ADA is committed to provide the latest information to the profession in a useful and timely manner.

The ADA is continually evaluating and will update its recommendation on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available. Please visit ADA.org/virus for the latest information.

Visit the CDC’s website for the latest information on COVID-19.


Original Article Posted at https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/i/infection-control

COVID-19 Update | Visit CDC.GOV For More Information

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In an effort to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 and in accordance with the request of the Department of Health and Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, our office will be closed starting tomorrow, March 18th until at least April 16th for all non-essential dental visits.

We will continue to see our patients for emergency visits and any pain-related issues. If you need to get in touch with us, please call our office at 225-673-1557 and leave a message. One of our staff members will contact you as soon as possible.

We encourage all of our patients to check our office Facebook page (Dental Care Group) and website (www.dentalcaregroupla.com ) periodically for updates. Please stay alert, be educated and follow all the recommendations for social distancing and isolation.

Reliable resources:

www.cdc.gov

http://ldh.la.gov/

This too shall pass!

Be safe,
Dr Jordan, Dr Causey and DCG staff

Prairieville LA Dentist | Look 10 Years Younger

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Your smile is one of the first things a person will notice when you meet.  If you would like to improve your smile with a simple procedure, teeth whitening may be a great option for you, especially if you have stained, dull or discolored teeth. Our dental office is providing teeth whitening services to new and existing patients.

Prairieville LA Dentist | Look 10 Years Younger

Regardless of how well you care for your teeth, over time, discoloration will occur.  The main causes of stained teeth are genetics, antibiotics, tobacco and certain foods. As we age, our teeth darken as well. While preventing tooth discoloration is nearly impossible, our experienced team can help reverse the effects of discoloration by helping to create a whiter and brighter smile.

 

Whether it’s an in-office treatment or at-home treatment, the principles of teeth whitening are the same.  A special whitening agent is applied to the teeth in order to bleach stains and brighten your smile. Our expert dentist will discuss your whitening needs and goals with you to determine which option is best for you.

 

In-office teeth whitening is the quickest method to a brighter, whiter smile.  With the supervision of an experienced dental professional, a stronger bleaching solution can be used than with at-home kits. Optimal results are achieved much faster with the professional whitening treatment, and in many ways the results are much better given the nature of the bleaching agents that are used. On average, patients find they appear up to ten years younger just by restoring the bright, white smile of their youth.

 

During a professional teeth whitening treatment, we will first clean the teeth.  They will apply a whitening agent to your teeth, carefully avoiding your gums and soft tissue.  Once applied, a laser light will be directed at the teeth to expedite the process.  For maximum results, the process may be repeated more than once.

 

If a visit to our office for professional whitening isn’t an option for you, at-home treatment may provide the whitening you need. While you will find a vast variety of at-home teeth whitening products on the market, including whitening toothpastes, over-the-counter gels, rinses, strips, trays and more, we can fit you with custom-made whitening trays that will more accurately fit to your teeth for a more even whitening result.

 

At-home teeth whitening results are less dramatic compared to those achieved at the dentist. While at-home teeth whitening is easy to use, it is not recommended if your teeth or gums are sensitive.

 

If you are looking to brighten your smile and look ten years younger, contact our office for more information or to schedule a consultation today.

 

 

Prairieville LA Dentist | To Floss or Not to Floss?

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By now, you have likely seen news reports questioning whether flossing is necessary for your oral health.

Prairieville LA Dentist | To Floss or Not to Floss?

We want to answer your question right away with an absolute YES. Cleaning between your teeth is an essential part of caring for your teeth and gums.

Whether you use traditional string dental floss, a water flosser, an interdental (between teeth) brush, or other form of interdental cleaning, it is important that you clean between your teeth correctly and on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, in the quest for catchy headlines, many news agencies have been providing a great deal of incomplete and inaccurate information.

Here’s the truth: Plaque and bacteria can be prevented from building up between teeth when flossing is done correctly on a daily basis.

Why does that matter? Build-up of plaque and bacteria between teeth is one of the leading causes of periodontal disease, a condition which not only affects your mouth, teeth, and gums, but has been linked to complications with diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other systemic health issues.

The next time you visit our office, ask your hygienist to show you the most effective way to clean between your teeth. For more information on flossing and interdental cleaning or to schedule an appointment, please contact us.

Prairieville LA Dentist | Oral Cancer Screening Can Save Your Life

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Our expert dentist wants to remind patients that our office offers thorough oral cancer screening as part of our comprehensive dental health services. Like with every form of cancer, early diagnosis can have a profound impact on the success of your treatment. Regular screenings are your first line of defense against oral cancer and our doctor is here to help.

Prairieville LA Dentist | Oral Cancer Screening Can Save Your Life

In your screening, our doctor will check your lips, tongue, gums, mouth, and throat for any abnormalities that could be or become cancerous. We will give careful consideration to any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you have experienced any oral cancer symptoms for more than a week without improvement, schedule an appointment and tell your dentist immediately. Symptoms that could indicate oral cancer include:

 

  • Ear pain
  • Unexplained mouth bleeding
  • Mouth sores that don’t heal
  • White or red patches in your mouth
  • Dramatic weight loss
  • Lumps or swellings in or around your mouth
  • Sore throat without other sinus symptoms
  • Sensation of something caught in the back of your throat
  • Pain or difficulty in swallowing, speaking, or moving your jaw or tongue

 

One adult American dies of oral cancer every hour. Though anyone can develop oral cancer, some factors can increase your risks. Some of the most common risk factors include: genetic predisposition, prolonged sun exposure, unhealthy diet, and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Oral cancer is more common in men than women. Patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) are at increased risk. Users of tobacco in any form are six times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-users.

 

Whatever the cause, the success of treatment depends on the size, type, and stage of the cancer. Early detection can play a critical role in your successful recovery. When found in early stages, oral cancers have an 80 – 90% survival rate. The primary reason for this is that early detection leads to earlier treatment. Oral cancers that are found in early or precancerous stages can often be removed and require less invasive procedures to treat. Later stages of cancer are likely to be larger and more complex and often have spread far beyond your mouth.

 

We are accepting new patients. If you would like more information about oral cancer and oral cancer screening, contact our office for a consultation.

Family Dentist in Prairieville
Prairieville Mobile Dentist

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment, so we never use a one-size-fits-all approach to your dental plan.

Visit Our Prairieville Dental Office

Family Dentist in Prairieville

Our Address

16270 Airline Hwy, Ste B
Prairieville, LA 70769

Phone: (225) 673-1557

Office Hours

Monday: 8am - 5pm
Tuesday: 7am - 4pm
Wednesday: 8am - 5pm
Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 7am - 12pm
Saturday/Sunday: Closed

We proudly serve Prairieville, Gonzales, Baton Rouge, Port Vincent, Dutchtown and other surrounding areas.

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