Preventive Dentistry – Greater Inwood, Houston
General Dentist Visits Maintain Your Oral Health
Dr. Lawton offers high-quality family dentistry to patients in Greater Inwood, Houston and all surrounding areas. Our team performs a diverse array of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental services for families. Our preventive treatments include routine checkups, general hygiene, gum disease treatment, and oral cancer screenings. Dr. Lawton also provides basic dental care for children, such as dental sealants and fluoride supplements. He is also an expert in restorative general dentistry, administering everything from root canals and tooth-colored crowns and fillings to dental implants and bridgework.
The health of your teeth and gums plays a major role in your overall health, and Dr. Lawton is devoted to taking exceptional care of you and your family’s dental needs. From prevention to restoration, you can rest assured that you and your family’s oral health is in good hands.
Dental Checkups & Cleanings
Above all else, Dr. Lawton wants to help his patients prevent the small dental concerns of today from becoming extensive, long-term issues tomorrow. Our team recommends that you schedule a dental examination and cleaning at least twice a year here. During this visit, we will review all of the individual pieces that make up a patient’s overall oral health, including each tooth, the gum tissue, the jaw, a patient’s natural bite, any existing dental restorations like crowns, and more. A session with one of our talented hygienists will also banish any decay-causing plaque and tartar from the dental surfaces.
Gum Disease Treatment
Are you seeing blood in the sink after brushing and flossing? Does your gum tissue look overly red and puffy instead of a normal pink shade? These warning signs shouldn’t be ignored, as they may indicate the presence of periodontal (gum) disease. Our team provides periodontal screenings during regular checkups and can provide dedicated therapy as needed to eliminate the infection, including scaling and root planing and highly effective antibiotics. We also use Oraquix, which is a periodontal gel that helps make these types of treatments much more comfortable by numbing the tooth pockets.
Dental Sealants
It can be hard at times to reach every last nook and cranny of the mouth with a toothbrush, especially when you’re young and still learning how to practice oral hygiene successfully at home. Thankfully, dental sealants are an easy and effective way to guard against cavities. This flexible, plastic-based substance is painted directly onto the chewing surfaces of certain teeth and hardened in place. There, it will block out harmful food particles and infectious bacteria from reaching the tooth.
Sports Mouthguards
We all know that athletes need helmets, kneepads, and elbow guards to stay safe during the big game – but what about their smiles? Many patients and families are surprised to learn that up to 40% of all dental injuries are related to sports, leading to millions of emergency room visits every year. A sports mouthguard (also known as a sportsguard) can work wonders in keeping teeth safe from harm for athletic patients of all ages, and Dr. Lawton strongly recommends using a custom-made model so patients can enjoy the highest levels of comfort, flexibility, and protection possible.
Nightguards for Bruxism
Bruxism (more commonly referred to as “teeth grinding”) is a widespread bad habit that affects patients from all walks of life, especially those who experience a great deal of stress on a regular basis. A majority of sufferers aren’t even aware of their condition because it only happens at night while they sleep, leading to painful, unexplained symptoms like an aching jaw and headaches in the morning. If our team discovers telltale signs of bruxism during your next checkup, we will recommend the regular use of a custom-made nightguard. Nightguards keep teeth safe from harmful contact, preventing breakage and the need for restorative care later down the road.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Many patients believe that they don’t need to worry about oral cancer if they don’t smoke or drink – but this isn’t true. In fact, a whopping 25% of cases of this potentially deadly condition occur in people who exhibited NO known risk factors before their diagnosis. Dr. Lawton considers himself his patients’ first line of defense against oral cancer, which is why he provides dedicated screenings as a part of regular checkups. If he discovers any strange abnormalities, such as discolored oral tissue or lingering sores, he will be sure to alert you so you can take the next steps towards a proper diagnosis.
Fluoride Treatments
It’s easy to find fluoride everywhere, including in various toothpaste products, some foods, and even the water in your sink at home. Thankfully, this is a good thing – regular exposure to this mineral can strengthen and remineralize tooth enamel, resulting in a reduced risk of cavities. Our team may recommend professional fluoride applications for children and adults who we believe could benefit from some additional smile fortification. The process only takes a few minutes and can be completed during regular checkups and cleanings.
Children's Dentistry
Being able to bring the entire family to one dental office can result in a significant amount of saved time, money, and effort for busy parents. Dr. Lawton’s personable and experienced approach is a great fit for all ages, including your youngest loved ones. We offer several kid-friendly services, including dental sealants for protecting little teeth from cavities, fluoride treatments for strengthening smiles, and more.