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Preventive Dentistry
Your First Steps to a Healthy Smile

Preventive dental care can help you prevent dental emergencies and discomfort of dental problems.

woman smiling in dental chair before cleaning in woodland hills
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Dental Cleanings & Exams in Woodland Hills & Manhattan Beach

While we take great pride in the high-quality restorative and cosmetic dentistry we offer, the foundation of our Woodland Hills and Manhattan Beach dental practice is built on effective preventive dentistry. We can help you and your family stay healthy and practice lasting oral habits.

Good Oral Health Improves Your Overall Healthwoman smiling after dental cleaning in woodland hills

You might be surprised to learn that many health-conscious patients who watch what they eat, exercise, and visit the doctor regularly actually neglect their oral health. Researchers have discovered over the last few decades how much your oral health can affect the other systems in your body.

Periodontal disease affects over 65% of American adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As people age, that number rises dramatically. Periodontal disease is an active infection in your gum tissue. It causes inflammation and can worsen many medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses such as COPD and chronic bronchitis, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

At Modern American Dentistry, we make your health and wellness our number one priority and treat you and your family based on your needs. Your oral health may change as you go through the stages of life from childhood to adulthood through your senior years. Hormonal changes, medical history, and family history all play a part in how we plan your preventive treatment.

Dental Cleanings for Your Whole Family in Woodland Hills

Our hygiene department focuses on providing excellent care to your entire family – from toddlers to seniors. Professional dental cleanings allow us to address gum disease in its earliest stages, when it is easiest to treat and often reversible. By maintaining your regular dental cleaning schedule, you can often avoid gum disease and its complications altogether.

If you are new to our practice or have some catching up to do, we will never make you feel bad about your dental conditions. Both Dr. Joel Gould and Dr. Gabe Adorjan are kind, compassionate dentists who avoid guilt trips and focus on solutions for your health. Our hygienists are thorough and have a gentle touch. The latest technology, combined with their skills, can keep your teeth clean and healthy.

We work to educate patients on techniques and products to help maintain good oral hygiene between dental visits.

Comprehensive Oral Exams

Whether you are a new or existing patient, we will perform periodic comprehensive dental exams and x-rays to monitor changes or developments in your oral health. We do a complete exam of each tooth, your gum tissue, your bite, and update your medical history. Dr. Gould and Dr. Adorjan will compare your x-rays over time and alert you to any changes they find. This allows us to treat any potential conditions early.

Preventive Services We Offer in Manhattan Beach

We’re pleased to offer preventive dentistry procedures at our Woodland Hills and Manhattan Beach dental locations that ensure the oral health and safety of you and your family. If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while and are catching up, or if you’re up-to-date on your regular cleanings—Dr. Joel Gould and Dr. Gabe Adorjan will treat you with compassion and kindness.

Your healthy teeth and gums are a priority at Modern American Dentistry. We offer the following dental treatments to help maintain the health of your smile:

If you have missing or removed teeth, it’s imperative to replace them before they damage neighboring teeth. Dental implants are a popular tooth restoration process that creates a natural look for a lifetime. A non-surgical alternative for patients is modern dentures, which are comfortable and cosmetically appealing.

The combined skills and expertise at both dental locations means we can treat most dental issues to maintain your oral health.

woman smiling in dental chair during preventive exam in woodland hillsNo More Dental Anxiety

Some of our patients have anxiety before visiting the dentist. Whether you have had bad past experience or are worried about pain and discomfort, we can alleviate your fears by providing a comfortable and pain-free experience. At Modern American Dentistry, we offer sedation dentistry that is safe and effective for all ages.

Nitrous oxide and oral sedation can help our patients relax and allow our dental staff to perform necessary dental cleanings. If you or someone in your family are anxious about an upcoming dental appointment, please let us know. We do everything we can to make your dental visit as pleasant as possible.

How Often Should You Visit the Dentist?

Children and patients with healthy teeth and gums can usually see their dentist every six months for regular dental cleanings and exams with x-rays. As we age, dental visits may need to be more frequent to ensure we don’t develop tooth decay or gum disease.

If you are being treated for periodontal disease, we will recommend scheduling visits more often for your oral health. Adult patients typically see their local dentist three or four times a year in order to maintain their beautiful smile. Visiting your Manhattan Beach and Woodland Hills dentists as often as recommended is the best preventive dental care you can do for your smile.

Frequent cleanings and exams can catch serious dental problems before they form. With many dental issues, problems do not heal themselves if left untreated. Not only are small cavities and early stages of gum disease easier to treat, but it’s also beneficial to your finances to catch them before they become more complicated. Patients who skip dental cleanings may end up paying more in the long run because of dental issues.

If you have had a cosmetic dental treatment like porcelain veneers or a restorative procedure like a root canal, follow-up visits are a great way to check your progress and ensure there are no complications.

If you’ve come in for a dental emergency like a knocked-out tooth or filling, or tooth pain, we recommend scheduling a follow-up dental appointment to prevent future emergencies.

Preventive Treatment at Home

We encourage our patients to practice healthy oral habits in between each dental visit. Healthy teeth and gums don’t happen by mistake—it takes hard, consistent work to make sure your smile is clean and happy.

Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes keeps plaque and food debris from hardening. Flossing in between teeth will catch food particles that your toothbrush might miss. Once you get into an easy oral routine, you won’t think twice about maintaining oral health. We also recommend drinking water after each meal to wash away sugars and acids that form plaque.

If you are unsure about your brushing or flossing technique, ask our dental team for instructions or advice. We are always happy to educate our patients and their families. Even with diligent and meticulous brushing and flossing, not all plaque can be removed. This is why dental cleanings are important to keep, our dental hygienist can clean all surfaces of your teeth to remove any plaque and tartar that have built up.

Contact Us to Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning

Are you due for a dental cleaning and exam? Call Modern American Dentistry to schedule your next dental appointment. We welcome new patients at both our Woodland Hills and Manhattan Beach dental offices. Give us a call today to schedule your next preventive dental appointment. Your regular visits to our office are the best way to protect your oral health.

I can't say enough!

"I can't say enough. The entire office staff is professional and warm. Dr. Gabe is the best. I wish i had a dentist like this many years ago, i would have been better about going to the dentist. Let me not forget the hygenists, both are superb." - Linda W.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are so many ways you can actively participate in caring for your smile. As your Manhattan Beach, CA dentist, we do everything we can to protect and maintain your teeth—but at the end of the day, most of your dental treatment is in your hands. After all, you clean and care for your smile every day, while you only see us a couple of times each year.

family of three brushing teethOral Hygiene at Home

If you’re struggling to brainstorm ways you can improve your dental hygiene, consider some of the following suggestions: 

  • Floss at least once per day.
  • Brush your teeth for two minutes at least twice daily, preferably after each meal or snack.
  • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid brushing too vigorously—small, gentle brushstrokes will do. Forceful brushing often leads to gum recession. 
  • Avoid soda, energy drinks, juices, lemonade, and carbonated beverages. The carbon dioxide, sugar, and acid in these drinks will destroy your enamel and weaken your teeth. 
  • Drink water throughout the day and with each meal and snack.
  • Clean your entire smile each day, not just your teeth. Pay extra attention to your gum line, and brush debris and bacteria off your tongue every night.

Contact us today to schedule your dental exam and cleaning. 

Generally, yes. Most dentists use the “one visit every six months” rule as a guideline for their patients. We recommend visiting your Manhattan Beach and Woodland Hills dentists twice yearly for routine smile maintenance.

woman sitting in chair during exam in woodland hillsWhat to Expect at Regular Dental Checkups 

When you come into our dental office every six months, it gives us a chance to monitor your smile and catch any potential oral health problems before they become dangerous. Having our dental hygienists clean your teeth twice a year is usually frequent enough to get rid of any tartar and to leave your mouth feeling clean and fresh again. Most standard dental insurance plans cover one dental visit every six months, which makes it easy to get the care you need.

For some people, however, the six-month guideline is ineffective. Occasionally, our patients need to see us more frequently, such as every three or four months. Our Woodland Hills, CA dentists see patients who have significant oral health problems or whose poor genetics make their teeth more susceptible to decay more often than they see our “average” patients.

Contact Our Manhattan Beach and Woodland Hills Dentists

Please contact our dental office today to schedule your routine oral health exam and teeth cleaning. 

If it has been a long time since your last dental appointment, you are not alone! Patients avoid their dental appointments for a number of reasons – fear, finances, and busy schedules are just a few!

woman smiling in dental chair after cleaningCaring Dentistry in Woodland Hills

Our dentists, Dr. Joel Gould and Dr. Gabe Adorjan, will never make you feel bad or guilty for missing dental appointments. Instead, we are committed to providing you with such exceptional care that you will want to come back for your routine exams!

Our dentists and hygienists value patient education. We will teach you how to restore your oral health through a combination of consistent brushing and flossing, appropriate products, and regular dental appointments. We will focus on any dental conditions we find that threaten your health and smile.

It is never too late to address your oral health! We will work with you in a wellness partnership to help you achieve a smile that makes you proud.

Sedation Dentistry Can Help Anxious Patients 

Do you experience dental anxiety? We offer sedation dentistry to ease your fears and ensure comfortable dental treatment. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation bring our patients a sense of peace about their dental appointments.

We also offer convenient payment options to help you fit your necessary dental care into your budget.

Meet Our Doctor:

Teresa Hawkins RDH
Hygienist

Teresa graduated from USC's dental hygiene program in 1990.  She brings almost 35 years of experience to our practice. She has been with us since May of 2023. 

Her favorite part of her job is getting to work with an amazing group of people who are dedicated to helping patients achieve healthy smiles for a lifetime. 

She grew up in Eagle Rock which is located between Glendale and Pasadena.

In her spare time she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. She also loves travelling internationally and learning about different cultures. 

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