Preventive & General Dentistry

Dr. Joseph Olsen recommends regular six-month appointments to help monitor your health and prevent any dental problems from occurring. These exams are focused on your individual needs and provide a comprehensive overview of your oral well being.

To begin, our attentive team reviews your health history and then Dr. Olsen spends some time discussing your immediate concerns. We prioritize your comfort and then perform the following:

• Visual exam of your face, mouth, and neck
• Assess your teeth and gums
• Look for any cavities or early signs of periodontal disease
• Oral cancer screening
• Bite check

Throughout your exam, Dr. Olsen uses modern technology to diagnose and teach. Intraoral cameras show images of your mouth on the treatment room monitors so you can see what your dentist sees. This is extremely helpful as, after the exam, Dr. Olsen uses these images to explain his recommendations. Of course, we also use this time to answer any questions you may have and provide you with future treatment options (if necessary).

In addition to routine check-ups, we advocate regular hygiene visits and cleanings. Our dental hygienists help you and your family create solid, personalized at-home hygiene habits. By practicing good daily oral hygiene, you can prevent issues such as gum disease and cavities, which can lead to more serious dental concerns.

Our dental hygienist carries out your typical hygiene visit by firstly assessing your teeth and gums. She will look for any plaque buildup, signs of inflammation, and address your individual concerns. After your exam, we provide a professional cleaning to remove any excess plaque that may have been missed through daily brushing and flossing. If left untreated this plaque could lead to decay or even gum disease.

Oral hygiene visits are comfortable and non-invasive. Our team endeavors to make them fun and informative too. When kids are in the chair, we play games and use distraction techniques so we can take a look inside their mouths and get them on the path to a healthy smile.

Periodontal disease (gum disease) affects millions of Americans each year. This common problem can lead to very serious whole-health issues such as tooth loss, heart disease, and diabetes. Our expert dentist in Neenah and his hygienists use advanced training to assess your gum health during each visit.

If this disease has taken hold it can cause symptoms such as red, inflamed, sensitive or bleeding gums. Don’t fear, Dr. Olsen and his dental hygiene team can get you back on the right track with professional periodontal treatment.

Scaling and root planning is recommended when a patient has periodontal disease. This treatment can be performed right at our office with one of our highly trained dental hygienists. The tarter, plaque and toxins are carefully removed with ultrasonic and fine hand instruments. It can be completed comfortably with topical or regular dental anesthetic. The treatment also will include laser therapy. The laser is used to kill bacteria and assist in healing of the “pockets” around your teeth. The laser is an exciting advancement in the field of dentistry. We are proud to be one of the few offices in the field providing our patients with this advanced technology. More frequent visits to follow up after periodontal therapy are usually recommended. The laser is incorporated in the periodontal maintenance appointments as well in our office to offer the patient the best continued healing opportunity.

As part of our commitment to whole health and modern technology, our office uses a Velscope to perform oral cancer screening. These screenings are carried out on an annual basis to search for early signs of cancer such as lumps, lesions, or red and white patches in the mouth.

The Velscope is used after Dr. Olsen has visually evaluated your mouth for any obvious signs of oral cancer. This amazing piece of technology uses a harmless, bright blue light to inspect your mouth and tongue. The light illuminates over healthy tissue and changes when abnormal tissue is detected. This device thus allows Dr. Olsen to catch any early signs of oral cancer and discuss the best course of action for you.

You can assess your oral health regularly by checking for any abnormal changes in your mouth. However, we firmly advise visiting our office annually for a detailed oral cancer screening. Early detection dramatically increases successful treatment rates.

At Fox Valley Dental, we help smiles big and small to stay healthy. Many of our smaller smiles struggle to reach all areas of their teeth when brushing. This can lead to food and debris becoming trapped in grooves on the surface of the teeth. If it remains there this can cause decay, cavities, or more serious dental issues. Dental sealants are a non-invasive treatment that can help prevent this from happening and can be administered in a single visit.

Dental sealants are comprised of a special thin coat of plastic that is painted onto the surface of your teeth (most commonly back teeth, where food is chewed). The sealants cover over the grooves in your teeth and form a protective shield so debris cannot become trapped there. Sealants are effective, painless, and can be offered to both children and adults.

Your dental sealants can be cared for just like a normal tooth and will be evaluated during each six-month check-up.

We meet many patients who are nervous about visiting the dentist. It may be you have had a bad experience or perhaps you are apprehensive about what to expect. No matter your fear level, Dr. Olsen and our team make you feel comfortable through our in-office comforts, warm personalities, and sedation dentistry.

Nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) is a safe and effective sedation option for those who are nervous, are having extensive treatment, or find it hard to relax. This gas is administered through a nasal hood to help you feel calm during your visit. Patients can breathe the gas in normally and report feeling comfortable and at ease at all times.

The effects of nitrous oxide wear off minutes after removing the nasal hood. You are monitored throughout when under sedation and we’ll answer any questions you have beforehand.

When the inside of your tooth (pulp) becomes infected it can be very painful and a root canal may be the ideal solution. The first thing to note: Root canals do not need to be painful thanks to modern technology and anesthesia. Secondly, a root canal may be required due to deep decay, a cracked tooth, or trauma to the tooth. The main objective for Dr. Olsen is to save your natural tooth and get you back to optimal health.

Root canal therapy (also known as Endodontics) begins with your Neenah dentist numbing the area and then removing the infection. He carefully and gently cleans the area and places a composite material to protect the inside of your tooth. Once the space is sealed, Dr. Olsen positions a crown or other restoration on the tooth to restore its function and look.

If you are experiencing regular headaches or jaw pain it could be a sign of teeth grinding or a TMJ disorder. Most often grinding occurs at night and can damage your teeth or previous dental work. To prevent grinding, Dr. Olsen may recommend a night guard. This type of mouth guard is custom-made at our dental lab and should be worn at night.

Another form of mouth guard we offer is for sports. These have been designed to comfortably fit into your mouth and protect your teeth from trauma. The American Dental Association suggests wearing a sports guard whenever engaging in physical activity.

All of our mouthguards are made using an impression Dr. Olsen takes of your teeth during the initial visit. The impression is sent to our partner lab where a unique mouth guard is made. When we receive the mouth guard, we ensure it fits comfortably and gives you advice on how to wear it and take care of it.