Preventative Dentistry Urbandale

Your preventive care is tailored specifically to your current oral health, not a one-size-fits-all schedule. Based on your diagnosis, visits may range from every 2 to 6 months and are designed to support your long-term health and stability.

We categorize hygiene visits into three levels of care:

Healthy / Preventive Care (Prophylaxis)

For patients with healthy gums and minimal inflammation, visits focus on removing plaque and tartar, maintaining oral health, and preventing future issues. Routine exams also allow us to monitor for early signs of concern.

Gingivitis Therapy

When inflammation is present without bone loss, care becomes more targeted. Visits may include therapeutic cleanings, additional monitoring, and recommendations for specific home care products to help restore gum health and prevent progression.

Periodontal Therapy

For patients with active or history of periodontal disease, treatment is more comprehensive and ongoing. This may include periodontal maintenance, more frequent visits, and advanced diagnostics to manage bacterial activity and support long-term stability.

At every level, Dr. Lawson performs a comprehensive evaluation of your teeth, gums, and oral structures. This may include screenings for oral cancer, airway concerns, and signs of acid erosion, along with personalized recommendations for at-home care and products based on your individual needs.

Lawson Dentistry continually innovates to ensure oral health remains at the forefront of dental science. We’ve integrated salivary diagnostics to monitor oral health indicators effectively, providing a non-invasive window into your overall well-being. Furthermore, our adoption of Perio Protect enhances gum disease treatment, delivering medication deep below the gum line with a specialized tray system. This proactive approach fights infections and contributes to fresher breath and a brighter smile, reaffirming our commitment to preventative care that goes beyond the basics.

We’re at the vanguard of employing advanced techniques to identify disease pathogens contributing to oral health issues. By understanding the specific bacteria and other pathogens in the mouth, we can effectively tailor treatments to combat periodontal diseases. This targeted approach forms part of our comprehensive care, ensuring patients receive the most effective preventive treatments and care for their unique needs.

Integrated Care & Wholistic Dentistry

Dr. Lawson’s mission is to help patients understand the connection between oral health, physical health, and emotional well-being. Integrated care means she does not just focus on conditions of the mouth, teeth, and gums. She works with your medical doctors to gather as much information about you as possible to get a complete picture of your health and any medical issues that may impact your dental care. From checking blood glucose levels to working on smoking cessation, Dr. Lawson has devoted her entire career to treating her patients’ whole health, not just their oral health.

That’s what wholistic dentistry is—a whole health approach to ensure your entire being is treated and made healthy. Dr. Lawson does not just fix a dental issue and send you on your way; she works tirelessly to ensure all of your medical issues are addressed. Only treating symptoms without getting to the root of the problem is not comprehensive, integrative, wholistic care. Dr. Lawson and her dental team are not a “quick fix” type of practice.

These tests produce the results that Dr. Lawson needs to know if you’re showing signs of various oral cancers and diseases so treatment can begin right away.

You may not think of mouthguards of preventative dentistry, but these oral appliances are an excellent means to protect yourself from oral injuries if you play sports. If you want a custom-made athletic mouthguard, Dr. Lawson can design one according to the unique contour and measurements of your teeth. The custom appliance will sit more comfortably and securely, offering better protection for particularly active athletes.

If you grind and clench your teeth (medically referred to as “bruxism”), a custom-made mouthguard will prevent you from doing this. Bruxism can do serious damage to your teeth and can result in a misaligned bite and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD/TMJ).