Preventive Care

Preventive dental care encompasses a number of services, including dental exams, professional dental cleanings, oral hygiene counseling, annual digital x-rays, oral cancer screenings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants and custom-designed athletic mouthguards.

Preventive dental care may also address temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which cause discomfort and other troublesome symptoms for patients. Some preventive care, like cleanings and exams, are recommended on a regular basis, while other services are provided on an as-needed basis. The ultimate goal of preventive care is to ensure that the patient enjoys optimal oral health and identify any oral diseases in the earliest stages before they are likely to cause much long-term damage.

When your dentist examines your teeth at regular intervals, any changes or concerning symptoms can be caught earlier in the disease process. For example, if you see your dentist twice a year, a cavity is unlikely to affect a large portion of the tooth. However, if you delay going to the dentist, more extensive tooth decay can compromise the tooth’s stability and require a large restoration, like a dental crown. Furthermore, your dentist will be looking for issues like sores, bumps and red or white patches that could be symptoms of oral cancer, which responds well to treatment when it is localized.

Patients should have their teeth cleaned at least every six months. Even if you are diligent about your home oral hygiene regimen, plaque and tartar can still accumulate on your teeth and along the gumline, especially in the areas of your smile that you have difficulty reaching on your own. A dental hygienist can clean these areas more easily than you can, in addition to using professional instruments, which are the only tools that can effectively remove calculus (tartar) from the teeth.

You should be brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing daily. It’s also important to brush for two minutes each time to make sure that you are thoroughly cleaning all surfaces of your teeth. You also want to pay attention to your technique, because if you’re not brushing and flossing properly, you may not be getting as much of a benefit as you think. If you need additional instruction on this aspect of your oral hygiene, feel free to speak with one of our dental hygienists and ask any questions that you may have. Be certain to use an ADA-approved toothbrush that is in good condition, along with an ADA-approved toothpaste, as well.