General Dentistry in Dansville

Anything but Basic

We are pleased to provide the fundamentals of dentistry—thorough examinations, x-rays, and professional cleanings go a long way toward preventing the need for extensive dental work in the future. Your mouth is the gateway to your body, and its health is a strong indicator for the rest of your body’s health. We’re here to help ensure both are optimal, so be sure to schedule your checkups with Dr. Vogler and our caring team at A Smile By Design!

Oral Hygiene

Most Dansville residents know that brushing is essential for cavity prevention, clean teeth, and fresh breath, but many are surprised to hear that plaque can harden in as little as 48 hours, forming what is commonly known as tartar (or calculus), which is nearly impossible to remove without the assistance of your hygienist or dentist.

Tartar can contain up to 1,000 bacterial species, which create what is called a biofilm. Many of the microorganisms present in your biofilm are neutral or harmless, but the dangerous bacteria are responsible for tooth decay and gum disease, two things you need to avoid if you want to keep your natural teeth! Knowing this, you probably want to confirm that your oral hygiene routine is in tip-top shape. Here is the routine experts follow and recommend:

Brush a minimum of 2x per day for at least 2 minutes. Hold your soft-bristled toothbrush, manual or electric, at a 45-degree angle and brush gently in small circles along the gumline. To avoid acid erosion, it’s safer to brush about 30 minutes before eating—we know this seems counterintuitive, but swishing and spitting with water after you eat is safer for your enamel than brushing immediately after eating.
Floss daily. Flossing before brushing can remove plaque and food debris that your toothbrush can’t reach on its own. If you can’t bring yourself to use the string, we highly recommend investing in a Waterpik®, which has been proven to work just as well.
Rinse with mouthwash after brushing. This step isn’t required, but it can give your bacteria fighting a boost and make your breath minty fresh. Be sure to use an alcohol-free formula, as alcohol is drying and a dry mouth can render this routine ineffective.
Be mindful when consuming. The foods and beverages you eat and drink can tip your pH balance to acidic or alkaline, and the former can do damage to our mouths and bodies.
Schedule your twice-yearly exams and cleanings at A Smile By Design!

Gum Disease

Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, or periodontist in its advanced stage, is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. The bacteria associated with the infection has been found to increase your risk of heart attack by as much as 50%. The same inflammation is linked to stroke, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and a host of other ailments. Doctors in the medical and dental fields believe this is because the bacteria can travel through your bloodstream from the gums and reach your main lifelines—your heart and brain.

This correlation becomes even scarier when we look at the following statistic: up to 50% of the population in the United States has gum disease. However, it doesn’t have to be scary. Gum disease is treatable and preventable, and we can help you do both!

Oral Cancer Screenings

The importance of scheduling your dental checkups has increased with the rising rate of oral cancer. Your Dansville dentist is trained to recognize potentially dangerous abnormalities. Getting an idea of how your mouth usually looks and having high-resolution images to refer to can make the difference between catching oral cancer in its early stages and catching it when it’s advanced, which is the main reason it claims one person’s life in the United States per hour.

If Dr. Vogler finds anything suspicious, he can painlessly obtain cells for testing during your appointment with the OralCDx® Brush Test.

Signs & Symptoms

Swelling, thickening, lumps, rough spots, crusting, or erosion*
Velvety white, red, or speckled patches*
Unexplained bleeding*
Numbness or loss of feeling*
Pain or tenderness*
Persistent sores*
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, change in voice
Ear pain

Risk Factors

Smoking – Smokers are six times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers
Chewing – Patients who dip, snuff, or chew are 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer
Alcohol – Oral cancer is six times more common in drinkers than non-drinkers
Family history of cancer
Excessive sun exposure
HPV

*Can be found on the gums, cheeks, tongue, throat, lips, or any surface of the mouth.

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Mouthguards

You may have realized it by now, but at A Smile By Design, we love your smile! That’s why we highly recommend protecting it by wearing a mouthguard if you or anyone else in your family participate in contact sports. Not only can they prevent the loss of a tooth, but they can defend against painful injuries that occur from your teeth coming into contact with your cheeks or tongue.

If you’re tempted to purchase the stock variety or a boil and bite guard from a local sporting goods store, we understand. That seems more convenient and affordable, but when you compare the customized fit and durable material of a professionally crafted mouthguard, the difference becomes clear and the choice is easier to make. Our advanced mouthguards also protect from nighttime teeth grinding and jaw clenching, which make for a very unhappy TMJ.

Contact Us

If you have questions about any of our general dentistry services or would like to schedule a visit with your Dansville dentist, Dr. Vogler, give us a call today, or request an appointment online!

(585) 207-6291

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64 Elizabeth Street
Dansville, NY 14437
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SCHEDULE ONLINE CALL (585) 207-6291

Fax (585) 204-4260

Office Hours

Monday	8:30am-5:00pm
Tuesday	8:30am-5:00pm
Wednesday	8:30am-5:00pm
Thursday	8:30am-5:00pm