Preventative Dentistry

Check-Ups & Cleanings

Excellent dental care starts with thorough checkups and cleanings that can identify even the smallest areas of concern regarding a patient’s oral health. We’ll carefully inspect each tooth, the gum tissue, the bite, existing restorations, and more in order to fully understand your current oral health. Digital X-rays will reveal any damage that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Once our team has all of this information at our disposal, we can start creating a personalized treatment plan that addresses your needs effectively.

We also have an excellent hygiene department in Yakima! Our hygienists will clean away harmful plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums while making sure you’re comfortable throughout the entire process.

Children’s Dentistry

Our practice is a family-friendly one, and we’d love to treat both you and your children’s smiles in one convenient location! Many of our services are well-suited for growing smiles, including dental sealants, fluoride treatment, tooth-colored fillings, and more; our friendly, long-term staff is also great at helping younger patients feel at ease. We even choose one lucky kid to be the Brusher of the Month!

Dental Sealants

Keeping teeth clean with brushing and flossing can be tough at times, especially when you’re trying to reach the molars and premolars towards the back of the mouth. In order to support our patients’ smiles and keep cavity-causing decay away, our team can apply dental sealants over the chewing surfaces of these teeth. Sealants are thin but tough plastic coverings that harden in place and block out food particles from gathering in the grooves. Our doctor typically recommends dental sealants for children, but they can benefit adults in some cases.

Nightguards for Bruxism

Bruxism (the technical term for teeth grinding) can go unnoticed for far too long in many cases, leaving patients with worn-down teeth and chronic jaw discomfort. Why? Because this condition is most likely to occur only at night when a patient is resting and unaware. Our team will always keep an eye out for tell-tale signs of bruxism, and we can provide a night guard if needed to protect the teeth and minimize harmful contact.

Oral Cancer Screening

On average, one person dies from oral cancer every hour. Many of these cases went undiagnosed until they reached advanced stages, making the chances of recovery slim – that’s why our dental team takes our duty to discover oral cancer in our patients so seriously. During regular checkups, we’ll always review your mouth for signs of strange sores, red or white spots, and suspicious crusts/lumps, all of which can indicate cancerous cells. If we find anything concerning, we can help you take the next steps towards diagnosis and treatment.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is regularly added to oral hygiene products and even community water supplies because of its proven positive effect on dental health. In fact, countless studies have shown that people who regularly drink fluoridated water tend to have stronger tooth enamel and fewer cavities than their counterparts. At Terrace Heights Dental Center, we’re happy to offer professional fluoride treatment to children and adults who may not be getting enough exposure in their everyday lives.