Preventive Dental Care: Purpose, Procedures and Benefits

What is Preventive Dental Care?

It comprises any dental care measures that help maintain good oral health. Preventive dental services are available in general dentistry to care for patients’ teeth before they have underlying infections and injuries to nurses. In preventive dentistry, dentists monitor your oral health to detect and prevent diseases before they cause permanent damage. Preventive dentistry also revolves around creating and sustaining healthy habits that can build good oral health for a long time.

Who Should Benefit from Preventive Dentistry?

Preventive dentistry near Ladera Heights in Culver City is not limited to a certain age or group of people. Instead, everyone should prioritize their oral health enough to consider different treatments in preventive dentistry.

Which Procedures Are Available in Preventive Dentistry?

Preventive dentistry in your area offers various treatment services to help cater to good oral health, both short-term and long-term. The most common procedures in preventive dentistry are:

1. Dental exams – routine dental exams help you stay in tune with your oral health. Sometimes dentists perform intricate tests involving dental x-rays for a more comprehensive evaluation.
2. Dental cleanings – every dentist in Culver City will tell you that routine dental cleanings are fundamental for excellent oral health. They entail processes to remove plaque and tartar from your mouth, reducing the risk of oral infections. In some cases, dentists may need to perform deep cleaning services entailing root planing and scaling, particularly for first-time patients or those suffering from gum disease.
3. Dental sealants – are preventive dental fillings that protect teeth from dental cavities. They create barriers on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to reduce the risk of dental cavities.
4. Fluoride treatment – entails enriching teeth’ enamels with fluoride, a natural mineral that helps build strong teeth. Besides, fluoride increases teeth’ resistance to bacteria and acids that cause dental cavities.
5. Oral cancer screenings – are particularly important for patients at a high risk of getting oral cancer.
6. Mouth protectors – feature mouthguards that protect your teeth and jaw from external trauma. Mouth protectors are more relevant for children or sportspersons involved in high-contact physical activities.

What is the Goal of Preventive Dentistry

Before you try any procedure at Relate Dental Care, you may need help to acknowledge the relevance of preventive dentistry in oral health. Some of the incredible benefits of preventive dentistry are:

1. Preserving natural teeth – preventive dental measures prevent premature tooth loss caused by bacterial infections. Therefore, you can keep your natural teeth healthy and intact for many years more than most folks.
2. Encouraging good oral hygiene – you may think you are caring for your teeth properly until you visit a dentist for preventive dentistry services. Learning the proper techniques to brush and floss your teeth is paramount for long-term good oral health.
3. Reducing the need for restorative treatments in the future. If you are keen on preventive dentistry from the onset, you may not need restorative treatments like tooth replacement.
4. Lowering the risk of oral infections – including gum disease and tooth decay are very prevalent in dentistry.
5. Detecting oral problems early – usually, you never know if you have an oral problem until you realize severe symptoms that are hard to miss. However, during routine dental exams, the dentist can identify any anomalies that may point to early infections or oral complications.

Is Preventive Dentistry Enough for Excellent Oral Health?

However incredible the preventive dental treatments are, more is needed to sustain excellent oral health. Besides, there is often a limit to the frequency you can visit your local dentist for preventive dental care. Typically, it would be best if you visit your dentist every 3-6 months. Therefore, you must take preventive measures to care for your teeth at home. Some include the following:

1. Drink a lot of water – it keeps your mouth moist and reduces acidity that may damage teeth.
2. Brush your teeth at least twice every day – while at it, use good-quality fluoride toothpaste. A fluoride toothpaste will go a long way in hardening the teeth’s enamel over time.
3. Floss daily to remove food residue between your teeth.
4. Eat healthily – avoiding sugary, acidic, and starchy foods.
5. Quit smoking and limit your consumption of alcohol – they are infamous for dental discoloration, dry mouth, and gum infections.