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Health Safety Protocols


Image of a woman smiling, after having healthy teeth and following health safety protocols at Bradshaw Family Dental.To Our Valued Patients at Surprise Smiles,

Welcome! We are open, looking forward to seeing returning patients, accepting new patients, and operating under normal business hours! The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDS) is still not recommending any type of closures or modification in hours. We will continue to monitor information coming from both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and AZDHS and keep you apprised of any changes or updates. We will stay on top of this information and bring it to you as soon as possible through our website, email, and social media.

As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, our dentists and dental team want to assure you that we are continuing to do our best to make sure it a priority that we are following the latest health and safety guidelines from the CDC, specifically as they relate to the dental industry. We value keeping our patients and staff members safe and comfortable.

As part of our daily standard health and safety protocols, our office follows ‘Universal Precautions’ in order to protect our patients and our staff. These are precautions we have always taken, and are not new. By taking ‘universal precautions’ means we always assume that anyone could potentially be carrying a contagious and dangerous disease. We therefore follow strict guidelines to prevent the transmission of any potential disease, be it COVID-19 (Coronavirus), hepatitis, tuberculosis, HIV, or any other disease. This has been a standard of care we follow, per the CDC, in regard to blood borne pathogens.

These measures include:
•  strict hand washing protocols
•  use of (single use) disposable protective equipment and barriers
•  thorough disinfection of exposed or potentially exposed surfaces after every patient visit
•  disinfection and high-heat steam sterilization of instruments and routine monitoring of sterilization verification
•  continued education on infection control

Image of a dentist with a mask covering, so she is safe, and follows health safety protocols at Bradshaw Family Dental.Specific to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) we have added in additional precautionary and cleaning measures including:
•  disinfecting common surface areas every 30 minutes
•  providing hand sanitizer in common areas
•  screening everyone who enters our offices based on CDC recommendations
•  offering preprocedural mouth rinse

As state and national health and safety regulations change and evolve during these times, Surprise Smiles is dedicated to monitoring and evaluating our dental practice and office space for any potential risks as we serve our patients and community. We strive to maintain an approach to our dentistry services that is both safe and beneficial to everyone we serve.

We strive to provide a safe, healthy, comfortable, and relaxed environment for everyone that comes into our dental office. We follow the American Dental Association’s Update to Office Procedures During COVID-19 in regard to safe office procedures, workplace hazards, and making decisions for best office practices. We stay informed on recent information given to dentists in this regard, as well as keeping up to date with any changes recommended by the CDC.

Please let us know if you have any questions in regard to our health and safety protocols here at Surprise Smiles. We recognize that it can be challenging during these unprecedented times of COVID-19. We all want to get back to our normal lives, and we will be able to do so, in a safe, wise, and healthy manner. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have in regard to our dental practice health and safety protocols, cleaning, and disinfecting procedures we follow.

Thank you for continuing to be a valued patient here at Bradshaw Family Dental. We look forward to continuing to serve you and your dental needs through the various services we provide for you, from preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, sedation dentistry, dental implants and more!

Tooth Decay
Prescott Valley, AZ


Tooth Decay Prevention & Treatment provided by Our Expert Dentists in Prescott Valley, AZ at

Woman experiencing pain from tooth decayTooth decay is one of the major causes of tooth loss. This oral condition affects your teeth and gradually wears them down.

While its effects can be devastating, tooth decay is preventable and treatable. Our team at Bradshaw Family Dental is ready to help you restore oral health by treating this condition.

What Is Tooth Decay?


Tooth decay is an oral condition caused by the accumulation of bacteria.

It causes damage to the structure of your tooth and results in the softening of your tooth enamel. This makes the inside of your teeth vulnerable to infections.


The harmful bacteria will feed on the sugars in your mouth and create an acidic environment. As a result, plaque will form on the surface of your teeth and trigger decay.

The condition can spread to surrounding teeth if you don't treat it promptly. We advise that you come in for treatment immediately if you notice signs of this condition.

Types of Tooth Decay


Most of our patients don't know that there are different types of tooth decay. It is crucial to know the different types of this condition and how they vary from each other.

Also referred to as dental cavities, tooth decay affects many people. Here are some common types of tooth decay.
•  Root Decay - This type of decay is common among older adults. It typically occurs on the tooth root and often causes severe discomfort. Patients with receding gums and other oral conditions are also likely to have this type of tooth decay.

•  Pit and Fissure Decay - This type of dental cavity mainly affects the surface of back teeth. When your teeth develop, they tend to form very tiny holes — bacteria get into these holes and cause decay. Pit and fissure decay is the most common type of decay, affecting over half of all patients.

•  Smooth-Surface Decay - This is another type of decay. It forms on the inside flat surface of your teeth and could be dangerous. The condition forms when there is plaque build-up if you fail to get rid of it in time. Even though this type of decay doesn't cause severe damage, you should come in for treatment immediately after you notice symptoms. It is easily treatable, and you don't have to worry about losing your tooth.


What Causes Tooth Decay?


There are many causes of tooth decay. Knowing common causes of dental cavities will help you know how to prevent them.
•  Poor Oral Hygiene - If you don't take good care of your mouth, you will likely develop tooth decay. We encourage preventative dental appointments and regular cleaning through flossing and brushing. This will help keep tooth decay at bay.

•  Formation of Plaque - Plaque formation is another common cause of decay. Eating sugary foods will lead to the accumulation of plaque that triggers tooth decay. This is why it is crucial to clean your mouth after eating.

•  Dry Mouth - This common oral health problem affects many people. A dry mouth caused by insufficient saliva increases the risk of decay. The bacterial build-up is rampant in such dry conditions.

•  Sugary Foods - The foods you eat play a key role in tooth decay. While not all foods are harmful, some increase the risk of cavities. For instance, sugary foods create ideal conditions for plaque build-up. Sticky foods are difficult to remove and could lead to tooth decay. This is why you should stick to a healthy diet.

•  Acidic Drinks - Apart from sugary foods, you could also have a problem with acidic drinks and beverages. Such foods wear down your tooth enamel and increase the risk of damage. Avoid consuming foods with high acidic levels as they can be toxic.

•  Medical Conditions - Some health problems increase the likelihood of tooth decay. For example, some cancer treatments expose part of your cavity to radiation. Intense levels of radiation could cause tooth cavities. Conditions like diabetes could also be triggers of tooth decay.


How To Prevent Tooth Decay


Tooth decay can easily be prevented. Compared to other oral conditions, tooth decay can be kept at bay easily without drastic changes to your lifestyle.

Here are ways you can prevent this condition:
•  Brush with Fluoride - Fluoride is an effective way of preventing decay. Use a fluoride mouth rinse and brush with fluoride toothpaste to keep the condition at bay. We recommend that you use fluoride because it helps repair damaged minerals. Taking good care of your mouth using these products will help maintain your oral health.

•  Maintain a Healthy Diet - What you eat influences tooth decay. Avoid eating sugary foods that increase the risk of decay. Instead, stick to a healthy diet that helps keep your oral health in good condition. We also discourage eating sticky foods that can be hard to remove through brushing and flossing.

•  Good Oral Hygiene - This is the best way to prevent tooth decay. You prevent plaque accumulation by brushing your teeth at least twice daily and flossing regularly. Good oral hygiene is mandatory for good health. Besides preventing tooth decay, good oral hygiene also helps prevent other conditions like gum disease and gingivitis.


Tooth Decay Treatment Options


If you have developed tooth decay, don't worry because there are several treatment options.
•  Dental Fillings - Fillings are the most common treatment option for cavities. When applying dental filling treatments, we use a specialized tool to remove decayed areas and fill up the cavities. We fill the holes with materials like ceramic, resin, porcelain, or dental amalgam.

•  Dental Crown - Some cases of cavities can be treated with dental crowns. We can apply custom-fitted crowns to replace the damaged natural crown. This is done after removing the decay in them.

•  Inlays and Onlays - You can also use an inlay and onlay to treat tooth decay. These oral appliances do an effective job of fixing the condition and helping prevent its spread. Even though these appliances might be quite effective when decay is in its advanced stages, they do a pretty good job managing it.


Schedule Your Tooth Decay Appointment Today


If you have tooth decay, you will need treatment right away. Our experts at Bradshaw Family Dental are ready to help you attain good oral health by providing effective tooth decay treatment.

We use new technology to make the process as smooth as possible. Call us today at (928) 277-0076 to schedule an appointment.
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Prescott Valley
7136 East Pav Way
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
(928) 277-0076

Prescott
172 E Merritt St.
Suite F
Prescott, Arizona 86301
(928) 443-1200

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Tooth Decay - Prescott Valley, AZ • Bradshaw Family Dental
While tooth decay is a common condition, that does not mean that it is harmless. If left untreated, it can lead to serious and lasting complications. Click to learn more about tooth decay and what you can do to prevent it.
Bradshaw Family Dental, 7136 East Pav Way, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 - (928) 277-0076 - bradshawfamilydental.com - 9/30/2024 - Tags: dentist Prescott Valley -