Our preventative services can keep your smile healthy and prevent future dental procedures.

Diagnostic and Preventive Services | Dentist

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Diagnostic and Preventive Services in Waynesboro, VA

Family Photo | Preventative Dentistr When you want to maintain a healthy smile, regular dental care is essential! At Browning Family Dentistry, we provide high-quality diagnostic and preventive treatment options to help you maintain optimum oral health and keep your smile looking great.

Periodic Dental Exams

When Dr. Browning provides you with an exam, he's doing more than just checking for cavities. They evaluate your gums, bite, jaw joints, and teeth for signs of damage, wear, or changes that require a closer look. They will chart any changes they observe so that they can evaluate your oral health over time.

Each dental exam includes an oral cancer screening to look for any tissue changes that could be cancerous. Since dentists are often the first to notice abnormal lesions, routine dental exams could save your life!

Professional Dental Cleanings

When you come to our office, our dental hygienists will determine the type of dental cleaning that will be best for you. We tailor our professional hygiene appointments to meet your needs. Whether you come every six months diligently or you have some catching up to do, we can provide you with the type of professional teeth cleaning that will leave your teeth and gums clean and feeling fresh.

Regular dental cleanings – When you have little dentistry, an excellent home care routine, and professional dental cleanings on a regular basis, you may only need a routine dental cleaning to stay on track. No matter how well you brush and floss, you will not be able to remove tartar from every surface of your teeth. Our hygienists have the training and skills to gently remove tartar from those hard-to-reach areas.

Periodontal cleanings – If you have symptoms of gum disease such as bad breath and bleeding when you brush or floss, you likely suffer from a common condition called periodontal disease. We offer specialized dental cleanings that help restore your health and eliminate infection. Regular follow-up appointments will help you stay healthy and keep your infection under control.

Diagnostic Digital X-Rays

One of the best ways to detect decay quickly before it causes pain and tooth loss is with digital dental x-rays. Like digital photographs, digital x-rays are high-resolution images that we can review on a computer screen. Dr. Browning can zoom in on any suspicious areas to get a closer look. That way, we can address conditions while they are small and manageable, often saving you time and money in the process.

Is It Time for Your Next Dental Appointment?

Contact our Waynesboro, VA dental office to schedule an exam. We look forward to providing you with the tools you need to get healthy and stay healthy. Our friendly team can’t wait to welcome you to our dental family.

Cleaning

I went there for my semi-annual cleaning and check-up. I was warmly welcomed, went in on time and the hygienist was friendly, efficient and my teeth are perfectly clean! Dr. Browning performed a thorough examination and found that all is well. Great visit!
-Jacqueline C. 2/8/2017

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I visit the dentist?

How often you should visit the dentist for exams and cleanings depends on your oral health. Each patient is completely different and faces different oral health challenges. Your oral health also changes throughout your life as your medical conditions change.

For example, pregnant women go through hormonal changes that can affect their oral health, so they may require more frequent hygiene appointments to stay healthy. People with arthritis and other conditions that affect their dexterity (which can limit their ability to brush thoroughly) may require more frequent appointments to prevent conditions such as periodontal disease. Patients who have not visited the dentist in awhile may have some catching up to do to get them back on track.

No matter what your current condition is, we will never make you feel guilty or scold you for missing dental appointments. Our entire team will focus on helping restore your oral health so that you have a beautiful, comfortable smile you can feel good about.

When you visit our office, Dr. Browning will make a recommendation for treatment based on your current needs. For some patients, every six months may be enough, but for patients who have a lot of dentistry or who are prone to periodontal disease, visits up to four times per year can keep you healthy.

I haven't been to the dentist in a really long time, should I bother going back?

Yes, although you might have not stayed on a consistent recall schedule in the past, getting back into the habit of regular dental appointments is the only way to keep you and your teeth in a healthy and stable state. Do not be embarrassed of the outcome after your first appointment back - giving you an understanding of what treatment is needed and working with you to complete the necessary treatment is what we are here for and we are more than happy to help you.

What should I expect if I hate going to the dentist and have a lot of dental anxiety?

Please know that you are not alone, but also know that the staff at Browning Family Dentistry is very experienced in making our patients as comfortable as possible throughout their visit. Using devices such as the Cavitron to clean your teeth, or even using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help you relax will allow you to have a better outlook on going to the dentist.

When should my child have their first dental visit?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child have their first dental appointment by their first birthday. By providing your child with early childhood dental care, we can identify and address common conditions such as decay and periodontal disease.

We work together with parents on home care techniques, challenges when it comes to habits such as thumb sucking or snacking, and what to expect as your child ages. By creating a partnership with parents, we can provide your child the best possible outcome when it comes to their dental health.

In your child’s early visits, we will focus on acclimating them to the dental office and helping them feel comfortable and secure while they are with us. We will take your child for a ride in the dental chair, perform an exam, and, when they are ready, we can provide professional dental cleanings to keep their teeth healthy and free from plaque and tartar.

As your little one grows, we will incorporate digital x-rays, fluoride treatments, and decay-preventing sealants.

Your child is our top priority at our Waynesboro, VA dental office. We look forward to providing exceptional dental care to your entire family.

What is a dental prophylaxis (prophy)?

A dental prophylaxis is a thorough cleaning of the teeth performed by a licensed dental professional, typically by a dental hygienist every 6 months.

Meet Our Doctor:

Steve Browning DDS

Dr. Browning received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He also received advanced training in orthodontics, including ClearCorrect, Invisalign, and Six Month Braces. He is certified in soft tissue laser dentistry.

Outside of the office, Dr. Browning enjoys camping, golfing, snowboarding, and spending time with his family and his twins, Elena and Nathan.

Featured Blog Posts - Diagnostic and Preventive Services

February 27, 2017

The Secrets to a Healthy Smile

Brushing Teeth | Browning & Cunningham Family Dentistry

Step One: Brush

Focus on brushing along the gum line more so than the smooth shiny portion of your teeth. By angling the toothbrush 45 degrees and brushing the actual gums, you are removing the plaque and food that are responsible for gum disease and cavities.

Brush the chewing surfaces of all teeth but especially the back teeth. Your back teeth consist of molars and premolars are the most prone to developing cavities due to the presence of grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces which can catch food and bacteria.

Tip! Brush your teeth in 30 ...

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