Preventative Dentistry
We believe everyone has the right to good dental health. Therefore, we encourage patients to follow standard practices of maintaining optimal oral hygiene. As a part of our preventive dentistry offering, we also encourage patients to visit us at least twice every year for a full checkup. This emphasis on preventive dentistry is evident in the way we treat and guide patients.
No matter what dental procedure you need us to undertake, we would always suggest the best practices to retain your teeth in good shape. This emphasis on preventive dentistry is in line with the policies outlined by the American Dental Association.
Recommendations of preventive care should be followed from an early age and continued regularly. You should take your kids for a dental screening from the time when their permanent teeth begin to erupt, and the milk teeth give away. Besides, this also instills a lifelong best practice of good dental hygiene. We would conduct oral exams, routine x-rays, and teeth cleaning to identify potential dental problems and resolve them.
The advantages of preventive dentistry
- It significantly lowers the risk of developing tooth decay, depletion of enamel, and cavities.
- It helps you to save on expensive dental treatments by early detection and prevention.
- It helps with the early detection of possible gum problems.
- If you are a patient of certain chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, or cancer, these affect your dental health as well. The same goes for people suffering from eating disorders. Regular preventive care is a critical aspect of your whole health.
- It can help to prevent misalignment of teeth in children.
Best practices
- Brushing the teeth twice daily, in the morning and the night
- Using a soft-bristled brush and a fluoride toothpaste
- Floss daily to remove food particles lodged between teeth
- Using mouthwash to rinse out food particles following flossing
- Avoid acidic foods as these can harm the tooth enamel
- Avoid sugary foods as these can cause cavities
- Be careful about hard foods like certain candies, bones, fruits with hard seeds, etc.
- Abstain from smoking and using all tobacco products
- Using a mouthguard in certain sports
- Wear a nighttime mouth guard if you suffer from bruxism or grinding of teeth
Preventive dental practices
A close checkup of your teeth and gums would reveal what kind of dental care you need. We perform the following procedures as a part of our preventive dentistry services.
a. Oral prophylaxis: Oral prophylaxis or full-mouth cleaning dislodges plaque deposits on teeth and maintains gum health. A minimum interval of 6 months should be maintained between two sessions of oral prophylaxis.
b. Dental sealants: These are thin coatings applied over the chewing surfaces of back teeth to protect them from decay. The sealants seep into the natural fissures on the tooth surface, thus preventing the accumulation of bacteria in the back teeth.
c. Fluoride treatment: Fluoride is applied directly to the teeth of patients who are not getting enough fluoride.
d. X-rays: X-rays help identify teeth and gum problems
e. Oral cancer screenings: Oral cancer screenings identify early warnings of any cancerous growth in your mouth.