Healthy smiles for healthy families start with professional family dentistry. At Hillside Dental Associates, your bright, healthy smile is our top priority. Of course, you’ll only smile if you’re as happy with our service as you are with our dental treatment.

That’s why we take the time to listen to your needs and concerns. Not only do we listen to your concerns, but we use gentle, efficient cleaning techniques. We also hire caring, highly trained professionals. Our experienced team of specialists is invested in meeting all of your dental needs; from calming anxieties to teaching good habits, from regular check-ups to sophisticated dental surgery.

Learn More About Preventive Services

We do Periodic Exams every 6 months at a patient’s routine cleaning appointment. Sometimes X-rays are taken and we always do an oral cancer screening at this appointment. The periodic exam is used to check for tooth decay, signs of infection and disease, and take an overall assessment of the patient’s oral health. Recommended treatment is addressed at this time.

New patient exams are similar to periodic exams but are more in depth since there is no previous record for the patient. X-rays are taken and an oral cancer screening is completed. These exams generally last longer than the periodic exams so the dentist can record all necessary information regarding the patient’s overall oral health. Recommended treatment is addressed at this time.

We do oral cancer screenings during every periodic and new patient exam in our office. The causes of oral cancer are numerous. Some of the most common are viral, tobacco use, excessive alcohol use and UV exposure (sunshine and tanning beds). Even though the number of smokers in the U.S. are decreasing, the incidence of oral cancer is increasing due to viral infection and UV exposure. During these screenings we also check your lymph nodes, lips and cheeks. The exam takes just a few seconds but is very, very important.

Prophylactic cleanings are our routine cleanings done at 6 month intervals. These cleanings are used to remove plaque and tartar that has built up since the last dental cleaning to insure healthy teeth and gums. Sometimes x-rays are taken and a periodic exam is performed. This cleanings are done by our talented dental hygienists.

Deep cleanings are done for those patients who’s gums require more than the traditional dental cleaning. This is usually due to a condition called periodontal disease. Periodontal disease affects the supporting structure for the teeth, the gums and the bone. Deep cleanings are done by our talented dental hygienists.

We have invested in digital radiography to reduce the amount of radiation our patients receive and improve our diagnostic capabilities while increasing efficiency and communication. X-rays help us diagnose cavities in between the teeth, the health of the bone supporting your teeth, diagnose abscesses, cysts, TMJ and others. They are a necessary and integral part of our practice.

Over the past 65 years, fluoride has been found to be a very effective and safe way to help prevent tooth decay with no proven side-effects. Many communities add fluoride to their drinking water supply for this reason. According to the American Dental Association, “Today, studies prove water fluoridation continues to be effective in reducing tooth decay by 20 – 40%, even in an era with widespread availability of fluoride from other sources, such as fluoride toothpaste.”

We advocate a topical application of fluoride to children’s teeth twice per year (or at their 6 month cleaning appointments) to strengthen enamel and help prevent tooth decay. Because of the proven track record of safety, we feel that the benefits of fluoride are enormous.

Sealants are used to fill in, or “seal” the deep pits and grooves in the biting surface of back teeth. Without sealants, these deep grooves are difficult to keep clean and more prone to cavities. All of our sealants are BPA-free. The picture on the right shows a sealant in the top tooth.