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Preventative Care

These days, we’re all looking for ways to save money and stretch our budgets. If you’re looking for a way to keep your family’s teeth healthy and avoid costly problems in the future, preventative treatments at Dr. Stone's Office are the place to start.

Everyone wants to look their best, and a truly beautiful smile starts with healthy teeth. Our preventative services help you reach your goal of an attractive smile that is also healthy and functions properly. By getting to know you and putting your needs and wants first, we can create a treatment plan customized just for you.

Regular Exams and Dental Cleanings

The goal of regular dental exams and cleanings is to stay a step ahead of oral health problems. If minor problems do exist, regular cleanings and exams allow us to detect and treat them while they are still small.

Periodic dental exams allow us to monitor your oral health, look for any problems that may be developing, and note any changes since your last visit. This is also a good time to share your questions or concerns and to talk to us about any problems you may be having.

Even if you’re extremely diligent with your at-home oral hygiene, the only way to completely remove the buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth is with a thorough cleaning by our hygienist.

During your regular exams, Dr. Stone and our hygienist can decide if you would benefit from a fluoride varnish to protect teeth. If we find that you’re at high risk for cavities, we may also prescribe a mouth rinse called CariFree.

Gum Disease Treatment

Periodontal disease (gum disease) is an infection that affects your gums and the bone that surrounds your teeth. It can do a lot of damage to your oral health, and if not found and treated, gum disease can lead to loosening of your teeth and even tooth and bone loss.

If we discover that you have a gum infection, your treatment will be customized to address your specific needs. How we approach treatment will depend on the severity of the gum infection we find present.

In the case of mild gum disease, a thorough dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene may be all that's needed to stop gum disease from progressing. However, more advanced levels of periodontal disease – gingivitis or periodontitis – will require a deep cleaning by our hygienist. It's important for you to be fully informed about your periodontal health, and we’ll take the time to explain what treatment we recommend and how it can benefit your long-term oral health.

Positive Steps to a Healthy Smile

Dental cleanings are one of the most important services we provide because they allow us to stay one step ahead of periodontal disease and other oral health problems. Please contact Dr. Stone's Office so a friendly member of our team can help you set up your next appointment for a dental cleaning and exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I see my dentist for a checkup?

Without knowing you or your dental history, it’s really difficult to say how often you should schedule checkups. This is a decision that needs to be made between you, Dr. Stone, and our hygienist. For many patients, however, twice a year is sufficient.

Dr. Stone and our team are trained to detect and treat many problems before you’re even aware of them. With semi-annual visits, we can catch decay and gum disease in their earliest stages.

Of course, the goal is to prevent disease, decay, and tooth loss from occurring. It’s obviously preferable to stay current with your dental treatment and avoid having to worry about unexpected problems sneaking up on you. We’re here to help you, but you need to do your part by making and keeping your appointments. It all comes back to teamwork!

During each checkup, we’ll look for signs of decay and disease that may have developed since your last visit. If necessary, we’ll take digital x-rays to make sure we have the most current information on hand. Once we’ve gathered all the necessary information, we can make recommendations about any treatment we think may be necessary.

Is it time for you to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam? Give our Northern Hills Dental office a call, and we’ll get you set up for your next appointment.

What toothbrush or toothpaste should I use?

At Northern Hills Dental, we do not recommend a toothbrush or toothpaste by "brand", but by their "type".

For instance, for either a manual or a powered toothbrush, we recommend soft bristles.

For toothpaste, we recommend very low to low abrasiveness. Here is a list of toothpaste by relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) that you can check your brand against:

Very Low Abrasive
04 RDA: Toothbrush with plain water
07 RDA: Straight baking soda
08 RDA: Arm & Hammer Tooth Powder
15 RDA: Weleda Salt Toothpaste
18 RDA: CTx4 Gel
30 RDA: Elmex Sensitive Plus
30 RDA: Weleda Plant Tooth Gel
35 RDA: Arm & Hammer Dental Care
37 RDA: Sensodyne ProNamel
Low Abrasive
40 RDA: Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel
42 RDA: Arm and Hammer Metadent Advanced Whitening
42 RDA: Arm and Hammer Peroxicare
45 RDA: Weleda Calendula Toothpaste
45 RDA: Oxyfresh
48 RDA: Arm & Hammer Dental Care Sensitive
49 RDA: Arm & Hammer Peroxicare Tartar Control
49 RDA: Tom’s of Maine Sensitive
52 RDA: Arm & Hammer Peroxicare Regular
53 RDA: Rembrant Original
54 RDA: Arm & Hammer Sensitive Whitening
54 RDA: Arm & Hammer Sensitive Freshening
54 RDA: Arm & Hammer Sensitive Multi-Protection
54 RDA: Arm & Hammer Complete Care Stain Defense
57 RDA: Tom’s of Maine Children’s
62 RDA: Super Smile
63 RDA: Rembrant Mint
65 RDA: Arm & Hammer Complete Care Plus Enamel Strengthening
68 RDA: Colgate Regular
70 RDA: Colgate Total
70 RDA: Arm & Hammer Advance White Sensitive
70 RDA: Colgate 2-in-1 Fresh Mint
Medium Abrasive
78 RDA: Biotene Gentle Dry Mouth
79 RDA: Sensodyne
80 RDA: AIM
83 RDA: Colgate Sensitive Maximum Strength
91 RDA: Aquafresh Sensitive
93 RDA: Tom’s of Maine Regular
94 RDA: Rembrant Plus
95 RDA: Crest Regular
95 RDA: Oxyfresh with Fluoride
97 RDA: Oxyfresh Powder
High Abrasive
100 RDA: Colgate Optic White
101 RDA: Natural White
103 RDA: Mentadent
103 RDA: Arm & Hammer Sensation
104 RDA: Sensodyne Extra Whitening
106 RDA: Colgate Platinum
106 RDA: Arm & Hammer Advance White Paste
107 RDA: Crest Sensitivity Protection
110 RDA: Closeup Paste/Gel
110 RDA: Colgate Herbal
113 RDA: Aquafresh Whitening
117 RDA: Arm & Hammer Advance White Gel
117 RDA: Arm & Hammer Sensation Tartar Control
120 RDA: Close-Up with Baking Soda
120 RDA: Colgate Baking Soda Paste
124 RDA: Colgate Whitening
125 RDA: Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief, Enamel Repair
130 RDA: Crest Pro Health
130 RDA: Crest Extra Whitening
133 RDA: Ultra brite
144 RDA: Crest MultiCare Whitening
145 RDA: Ultra Brite Advanced Whitening Formula
145 RDA: Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide Whitening
Harmfully Abrasive
150 RDA: Pepsodent
165 RDA: Colgate Tartar Control
168 RDA: Arm & Hammer Dental Care PM Fresh Mint
176 RDA: Nature’s Gate Paste
200 RDA: Colgate 2-in-1 Tartar Control/ Whitening or Icy Blast/Whitening
200 RDA: Crest White Vivid
260 RDA: Ultrabrite Advanced Whitening

What are the dental complications of diabetes?

At Northern Hills Dental, we know that people with diabetes have to take special care with their oral health. Diabetes can make it difficult for patients to fight oral infections and beat periodontal disease. Our dental team provides dental treatments that are designed to help patients with diabetes achieve and maintain optimal oral health.

People with diabetes are more likely to develop oral infections and dental problems. In general this is because:

· High blood sugar levels feed oral bacteria, providing a perfect environment for periodontal disease and dental decay.

· Diabetes impairs white blood cells, making it difficult to fight oral infections.

· Poorly controlled diabetes may cause dry mouth, due to decreased saliva production. Dry mouth contributes to bad breath, oral infections, and dental decay.

· Diabetics with high blood glucose levels have more sugar in their mouths, which promotes growth of bacteria and leads to periodontal disease.

· Impaired white blood cells may cause your blood vessels to thicken. Consequently, the blood vessels are not as efficient at providing nutrients to the gum tissue.

· Impaired wound and infection healing also means that diabetic patients need to take special precautions when pursuing oral surgeries.

I have heart disease. What do I need to know about my dental care?

We’re glad you asked, because patients with heart disease do have special needs when it comes to oral health care. It’s important to let Dr. Stone know if you’ve recently had heart surgery or have a heart condition so he can treat you accordingly.

Gum disease is a bacterial infection that can affect your overall health. Whenever there is any bleeding in your mouth, bacteria has a chance to enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart.

Studies suggest that gum disease permits these bacteria to enter your bloodstream and attach to fatty deposits in the blood vessels of your heart. When this occurs, you may be at risk for developing blood clots that can eventually lead to heart attacks.

To counteract this, Dr. Stone may prescribe antibiotics prior to treatment, especially for procedures like professional dental cleanings, tooth extraction, and some oral surgeries. However, before making any decisions, Dr. Stone will consult with your physician or cardiologist to determine which antibiotics are most appropriate for you.

Why should I floss?

RAPID CITY, S.D (KOTA-TV) Before you head to school don't forget to floss, right? Well maybe not... There's been recent news reports questioning whether flossing is an important step for improving dental hygiene.

Periodontist Dr. Joshua Nehring, with Dakota Regional Periodontics, says flossing is very vital.

According to the American Dental Association, tooth decay and gum disease can develop when plaque is built up on the teeth, along with the gum line.

Dr. Nehring suggest brushing for two minutes, twice a day to secure good oral hygiene and cleaning in between teeth daily.

"With any of the oral hygiene tools or instruments, you just need to not be too aggressive. We shouldn't be ramming the floss deep down in our gums...it should be a gentle technique. The floss should be what we call c shape, so your wrapping it around the tooth gently... going down just slightly to or below the gums and thats the same with your toothbrush and interproximal brushes", says Nehring.

Nehring suggest seeing your dentist every 6 months for good dental hygiene.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Reid Stone DDS

“Dentistry is an industry where advancements in technology are rapid, and I enjoy constantly learning and implementing new technology and techniques to better treat our patients.”

Dr. Stone received his Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University, and then attended the University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. In addition to his education, Dr. Stone participates in many hours of continuing education courses each year; far exceeding the 100-hours required every five-years to maintain his South Dakota Dental license.

As ...

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