Preventive (Prophylactic) Dentistry
Preventive dentistry is the modern way of reducing the amount of dental treatment
necessary to maintain a healthy mouth and to keep your teeth. The two major
causes of tooth loss are decay and gum disease. The better we prevent or
deal with these two problems, the more chance people have of keeping their
teeth for life.
The joint efforts of the dentist, the hygienist and the patient, can help
to prevent the need for treatment, and so avoid the traditional pattern of
fillings and extractions.
A course of treatment may be recommended to get your mouth into good condition,
and a maintenance plan will be worked out to help you keep it that way.
Preventive Procedures
Regular hygiene appointments - allow the doctor and hygienist to monitor
your oral health and to clean under your gum line where the toothbrush
cannot reach.
They include thorough examination & cleaning (sanding & scaling);
full-mouth and periodontal (gum) exam; oral cancer screening; periodic X-Rays
to detect decay, bone loss or tumors; and Individual care consultations.
In order to preserve beautiful and healthy teeth are advisable two regular dental hygiene appointments a year.
Fluoride Treatment - This treatment hardens the enamel on teeth to make it more difficult for cavities to start.
Cavity Detecting Laser - It is much more accurate than the sharp probe used in the past, and is totally painless. It allows us to find cavities undetectable
with the probe.
Night Guard Therapy - Night guards are used as a treatment option to prevent damage to the dentition from grinding and clenching. It is a conservative,
reversible treatment modality that is usually well tolerated by patients
and is very successful.
Sanding - Removing tartar performed by using a mixture of sand and water under high pressure.
Scaling - Removing supragingival calculus with an ultrasound device.
Sealants - These plastic coatings are applied to molars and premolars to seal out decay-producing plaque. They are painlessly applied and last many
years before renewing. Sealants serve in a preventive capacity to reduce
the risk of cavities and more costly fillings. They can be applied on baby
or adult teeth.
X-rays - These help the doctor detect cavities that cannot be seen by the eye (i.e., between teeth). Our use of digital X-rays reduces radiation up to 90%.
