Preventive Treatment
Healthy teeth and gums start with a regular preventive routine. Brushing and flossing at home helps patients to maintain their oral health in between professional cleanings, but it is impossible to remove all calculus and bacteria with brushing and flossing alone. That is why professional dental cleanings and exams are essential to maintaining oral health and wellness.
Comprehensive Oral Examinations
Olga Frey, DMD, will perform a comprehensive exam of each patient’s teeth and gums in order to identify any potential oral conditions. When common oral conditions, such as decay and periodontal disease, are detected in their early stages, treatment is often less invasive and less expensive.
She will also perform a life-saving oral cancer screening to rule out any cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions. Early diagnosis of this deadly cancer dramatically increases survival rates. Dentists receive specialized training to help identify abnormal lesions and provide the best defense for patients in the fight against oral cancer.
Professional Dental Cleanings
We custom tailor dental cleanings to match our patients’ needs and provide the level of cleaning necessary to best support their oral health. Professional cleanings can range from a simple prophylaxis that removes small amounts of calculus and polishes teeth all the way to advanced periodontal treatment and maintenance that includes the removal of calculus and bacteria from above and below the gum line as well as continued monitoring to avoid re-infection.
Our hygienists, along with Dr. Olga Frey, will recommend a professional dental cleaning appropriate for each patient’s current level of health.
Additional Preventive Treatments
Additional preventive treatments can help protect patients’ teeth from decay.
Dental sealants – Dental sealants are a protective barrier that Dr. Olga Frey will apply to the chewing surface of our patients’ teeth. This protective barrier keeps food and bacteria from the deep grooves of the teeth and helps prevent decay. They are a cost-effective preventive treatment that can last up to five years before they require replacement.
Fluoride treatments – For patients who suffer from tooth sensitivity or who are more susceptible to decay, fluoride treatments strengthen enamel and protect against the acidic environment caused by bacteria.
Diagnostic Digital Radiography
Digital x-rays are the best way for dentists to diagnose conditions such as decay, bone loss, root fractures, and cysts. Dental x-rays emit only a very low amount of radiation when the image is captured, and the information provided is extremely beneficial to the health of our patients.
Digital radiography allows for immediate access of the diagnostic images. We catalog them for comparison with previous x-rays to monitor the patient for changes in their oral health from year to year.
Call to Schedule a Preventive Exam and Professional Dental Cleaning
We work closely with patients to help them stay healthy and avoid many common dental conditions with quality diagnostic and preventive treatments.
Call our East Providence, RI dental office to schedule an exam with Dr. Olga Frey.
Frequently Asked Questions
There's no getting around the need to get around your teeth daily with dental floss. It clears food and plaque from between teeth and under the gum line. If you don't, plaque hardens into tartar, which forms wedges and widens the space between teeth and gums, causing pockets. Over time, gums pull away and teeth loosen.
If you have any of these issues or see your child having trouble chewing or complaining of soreness:
Mouth sores
Jaw pain
Redness
Swollen face or gums
Tooth sensitivity
Broken teeth
Dry mouth
Bleeding gums
Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Getting checked out right away prevents more serious problems and infections.
Yes, sweets and foods with acid, like candy and soda, could stick to teeth and lead to cavities. Smoking and chewing tobacco can cause oral cancer and gum disease.
While teeth are strong enough to chew ice and tear open packages, this can break them and stress your jaws. Gritting or grinding down on teeth when you're stressed may crack them.
Biting your nails is another bad habit. It pulls your jaw out of position and changes how your teeth fit together.
While the Waterpik Water Flosser is extremely effective, it is still not a replacement for traditional floss!
It’s so important to floss because that process removes bacteria colonies from teeth and gums. The Waterpik or Water Flossers simply rinse these areas. Ideally, patients should use both.
Dental X-rays help dentists visualize diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissue that cannot be seen with a simple oral exam. In addition, X-rays help the dentist find and treat dental problems early in their development, which can potentially save you money, unnecessary discomfort, and maybe even your life.
How Often Should Teeth Be X-Rayed?
The frequency of getting X-rays of your teeth often depends on your medical and dental history and current condition. Some people may need X-rays as often as every six months; others with no recent dental or gum disease and who visit their dentist regularly may get X-rays only once a year. If you are a new patient, we take X-rays as part of the initial exam and to establish a baseline record from which to compare changes that may occur over time.
How Safe Are Dental X-Rays?
Exposure to all sources of radiation -- including the sun, minerals in the soil, appliances in your home, and dental X-rays -- can damage the body's tissues and cells and can lead to the development of cancer in some instances. Fortunately, the dose of radiation you are exposed to during the taking of dental X-rays is extremely small, especially when using digital X-rays.
Did you know...
For every single x-ray taken in our office equals two bananas you've consumed. And every full set of x-rays (18) taken is the same amount of radiation as walking around the Grand Canyon for two days. That means 10 full sets (180) of x-rays would equal a 6 hour plane flight.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Olga Frey DDS, DMD
Dr. Olga Frey has been providing dental care to families in the East Providence and Providence communities over the past 30 years. She graduated from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Frey maintains memberships in the American Dental Association and Rhode Island Dental Society. She is committed to ongoing professional growth and continuing education on a regular basis. Certified in implant placement/implant restoration and CO2 laser treatments.
You can find Dr. Frey spending time with her dogs Karma, Nona, and Remy while splitting her time in New Jersey around with ...