Preventive Dentistry Specialist

What is preventive dentistry?

Preventive dentistry is the branch of dentistry that emphasizes the importance of caring for your teeth before complications occur, minimizing your chances of ever having to deal with them. While you can’t always predict an injury to the mouth or normal wear-and-tear, keeping up with your regular dental exams and taking other steps can help you prevent numerous oral health issues, including:

• Periodontal disease
• Cavities and decay
• Abscesses
• Damage from teeth grinding

Taking part in preventive dentistry also helps you detect oral health issues, including oral cancer, in their earliest and most treatable stages. At each exam and cleaning appointment, your Greder Dental dentist examines every part of your mouth for signs and symptoms of a problem that needs treatment.

How often should I visit the dentist for preventive dentistry?

Exams and cleanings are recommended once every six months starting before your first birthday and continuing for the rest of your life. At Greder Dental, the team offers preventive exams and cleanings to patients of all ages and stages of oral health. 

At these appointments, your dental hygienist thoroughly cleans your teeth and the spaces between them. Your dentist physically examines your mouth and may include an oral cancer screening intermittently. Finally, they discuss the state of your oral health with you and give you guidance for how to care for your mouth at home. 

What steps might be involved in my preventive care plan?

Preventive dentistry goes beyond cleanings and exams. Though these steps are undeniably important, your Greder Dental dentist might recommend other preventive care steps, too. Your plan might include:

Sealants

Sealants are coats of liquid resin that your dentist paints onto the chewing surfaces of your child’s molars. Molars have crevices that tend to gather bacteria and form cavities, but sealants help to keep them clean.

Fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral that keeps your teeth strong — so much so that much of the United States adds fluoride to the water supply! An extra dose of fluoride via a fluoride application to the surfaces of your teeth is helpful for children and patients who are particularly susceptible to cavities.

Mouthguards

There are a few types of mouthguards, with a primary purpose of protecting your teeth from breakage and injuries. Your Greder Dental dentist might give you one to use while playing contact sports or to wear at night to stop you from grinding your teeth.

Keep up on your preventive dental care by booking your next cleaning or exam by phone or online at Greder Dental today.