Preventive Treatment in Rocky River, OH
Providing our patients with the best care possible is important to our entire team. That is why Dr. Linda Rak Canepa places a special emphasis on preventive care and early detection of dental conditions. Fortunately, technology today allows us to take better care of patients than ever before, prevent conditions before they worsen, and diagnose serious conditions such as oral cancer in their earliest stages when survival rates are highest.
Digital Dental X-Rays
Dental x-rays have always been among the lowest radiation emitting x-rays in the medical field. With the implementation of digital x-rays, they emit up to 80% less radiation than before, making them even safer.
In addition to the health benefits of digital x-rays, they also give us instant results, appearing on our computer screens almost immediately after we take them. This allows us to view the images right away and diagnose quickly if you are experiencing a problem.
We can also zoom in on these high-resolution images to examine suspicious areas more closely. Digital x-rays allow us to see more detail, change contrast, and adjust exposure, just like digital photography.
We only take the x-rays we need to diagnose any potential conditions such as decay, infection, bone loss, and fractured teeth. Typically, we take x-rays once yearly unless you have a suspected problem. If you have questions about digital x-rays, how they work, or about their safety, we encourage you to ask us!
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer is one of the most deadly cancers because it often goes undiagnosed until it is in its late stages. Certain risk factors increase your chances of oral cancer such as age, alcohol use, tobacco use, and exposure to HPV (human papilloma virus).
At our Rocky River, OH dental office, we implemented the latest technology so that we can identify oral cancer in the earliest stages when survival rates are highest and treatment is less invasive. VELscope is the most widely used device to identify oral conditions such as:
- Bacterial infections
- Precancerous tissue
- Oral cancer
- Viral and fungal infections
- Squamous papillomas
- Salivary gland tumors
By screening the inside of your mouth and gums with VELscope, we can identify irregular lesions and recommend treatment or biopsies when necessary. Abnormal cells fluoresce under the lighting of VELscope and alert us to any abnormalities.
Your dentist is the best person to identify oral cancer and suspicious lesions. That is why your regular exams are so important – they can even save your life.
Call Us to Schedule Your Next Exam
Our entire team looks forward to welcoming you. We provide excellent dental care in a comfortable atmosphere. Even if it has been awhile since you have visited the dentist, we have a special ability to help patients feel at ease, making dentistry a much more enjoyable experience.
Give us a call today!
Frequently Asked Questions
We welcome your entire family to our Rocky River, OH dental office, including your youngest family members. We invite your children for their first dental office visit between the ages of two and four. Meeting your child at a young age and helping them grow accustomed to the dental office atmosphere will help them to have a more positive dental experience in the future.
Your child’s first visit will likely be a “meet and greet” type of appointment. Then Dr. Canepa will perform an examination to make sure everything is progressing normally. We will always use gentle techniques and speak to your child in a way that they can understand so we provide the most pleasant experience for your child right from the start.
We work with parents on oral hygiene instruction so you can help your child stay healthy, as well as educating you on what to expect regarding development. We also offer nutritional counseling.
As your child ages and becomes better at communication and cooperation, we will provide a dental cleaning, exam, and eventually take x-rays and offer preventive treatments such as fluoride and sealants. Dr. Canepa will also provide an orthodontic evaluation because early intervention can often make treatment more successful.
Out-of-network is a term invented by insurance companies to describe dental practices that do not agree to their specific terms and conditions.
We are in-network for most Delta Dental plans. That means we agree to accept the payments from Delta Dental according to their fee schedule. They look at fees from all dental offices in our area, including chain clinics and corporate practices, and determine a compensation for each service that dentists provide.
We choose to remain out-of-network with many other insurance plans because the payments that they deem fair would cause us to have to cut corners with our patients, which is something we don’t want to do when it comes to your health! We provide above-average dentistry and above-average service while still keeping our fees reasonable and competitive for our area.
Decisions about your dentistry should be between Dr. Canepa and you. Our philosophy is that we will always recommend the treatment options that will best support your health and you can always choose to have some, all, or none of the treatment, because your health is up to you!
Even if we are out-of-network for your particular dental plan, we will still work with you to maximize your benefits, bill your insurance company for you, and provide you with the outstanding dental care you deserve in a caring and professional environment.
Each appointment time varies depending on the procedure we are providing. For a new patient exam, x-rays, and professional dental cleaning, you can plan on approximately one hour.
At your new patient exam, we will make sure we have an up-to-date medical history and perform a full examination of your teeth, gums, and the inside of your mouth to look for any potential dental conditions that require our attention. We will also take x-rays to help us diagnose conditions we cannot see such as fractures, bone loss, decay, abscesses, cysts, and tumors.
Next, our gentle dental hygienist will thoroughly clean your teeth, removing the calculus that collects on your teeth between cleanings. She will also alert you if she finds evidence of conditions such as gum disease and will help you take the next step to restoring your health.
We believe in a comprehensive approach to dental care, and we make sure that our first appointment with you creates a good foundation for a long-term professional relationship. You will also have time to bring your questions to our hygienist or Dr. Canepa and share any goals you might have regarding the health or beauty of your smile.
Give us a call to schedule your next preventive appointment at our Rocky River, OH dental office. We look forward to meeting you.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Linda Rak Canepa DDS
Dr. Canepa is originally from Cleveland, OH and attended St. Louis University for her undergraduate education. She went on to earn her DDS at the Case Western School of Dentistry followed by a residency program at Cleveland Metro Hospital.
As a member of the Spear Study Club, North Coast Implant Study Club, Cleveland Dental Society and American Dental Association, Dr. Canepa stays current on the the latest developments and techniques available in dentistry today. She enjoys the people she meets in her practice and the challenge of the profession. She finds ...