Current Patients:
219-464-7191
New Patients: 219-898-4311
New Patients: 219-898-4311
These exams provide the most thorough look possible into your oral health picture. We begin with a visual examination of your existing restorations, then take digital x-rays, screen for oral cancer, and set you up with a hygienist for a cleaning.
We offer a visual, manual cancer screening to all of our adult patients because oral cancer is so treatable when caught early. Dr. M and our hygienists are specially trained to look for signs of oral cancer.
Digital x-rays are ideal because they expose our patients to a fraction of the radiation they get with traditional x-rays. Digital x-rays can be stored as files on a computer, don’t need developing, so are a more collaborative diagnostic tool.
Though Panoramic x-rays are digital as well, they deliver much more detailed images for Dr. Majka. Panoramic x-rays provide an image of the whole jaw, both top and bottom, and its relationship with your sinus cavities. These are not essential for every patient, but can help in diagnosing and treating TMD, temporomandibular jaw disorder.
DIAGNOdent is a tool that lets us look for cavities that don’t even show up on x-rays yet. With the DIAGNOdent, we can, in some cases, treat a cavity before it requires a filling.
Enjoy a thorough, preventive cleaning in which we use a Cavitron ultrasonic scaler to break up and remove tartar and plaque with sound waves. The advantages to this technology are reduced discomfort from scraping, and a more thorough cleaning.
Periodontitis is gum disease and causes a majority of tooth loss in adults. Symptoms of gum disease are bleeding gums, loose teeth, and sometimes pain, though a lot of people don’t even realize they have it…and that’s another reason to visit us at Valparaiso Family Dentistry for a cleaning and exam twice a year. If we diagnose gum disease, we may prescribe Arestin, which is a topical antibiotic that can stop periodontitis.
Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and is essential to optimal oral health. Fluoride can help protect against cavities. Children receive fluoride treatments at every single visit. We offer adults fluoride at each visit, too, if they so choose.
There are typically two types of mouthguards—one is used to treat bruxism, or grinding one’s teeth when one sleeps, which can cause all kinds of problems like cracked, worn teeth that are more susceptible to decay. The other is used to protect the athletes in our families.
Did you know mouthguards offer the highest level of protection for teeth when you play or practice a sport? They have even been shown to reduce the likelihood of a concussion. Ask Dr. Majka about a custom-fit mouthguard today.
We do offer emergency care, so please call us if you have a dental emergency. We will talk you through anything you need to do before coming in, and then make the time for you, or refer you to the appropriate place.
We offer computerized treatment rooms so our patients are never in the dark about their care. We want to show you what we’re doing and make sure you understand what’s going on. We provide internet-based patient education with Guru, to educate you on the nitty-gritty of everything we do. And we have intraoral cameras, tiny cameras that we use to take real-time images of the inside of your mouth, so you can clearly see the condition of your teeth and gums.