What is Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dentistry is everything you work with your dentist to do to keep your teeth, mouth, and gum healthy. It is the examinations, tests, analyses, diagnostics, and treatment (if necessary) of your oral health. All these are done to prevent the occurrence of serious conditions that could put your oral health in jeopardy.
In preventive dentistry
, the patient goes through certain checkups and hygiene sessions to help them avoid health issues in their oral region. Ideally, patients should visit their preventive dentist at least once in 6 months.
Preventive dentistry is the biggest and most significant investment anyone can put in their oral health. Minneapolis Dentists
are particularly serious about handling preventative dentistry. This step saves patients from avoidable pain and headaches associated with dental problems and the money needed to solve them.
For example, gum disease treatment alone costs between $500 - $10,000. The cost depends on the severity of the gum disease and other things that go into restoring the teeth, gum, and mouth after a dentist has helped to clear the disease. And most gum disease cases are entirely preventable!
What is the Primary Goal of Preventive Dentistry?
The ultimate and primary goals of preventative dentistry is to keep you from experiencing the negative consequences of an unhealthy mouth by keeping your teeth, gum, and mouth healthy. To achieve this, you can do your job by sticking to your oral hygiene guideline at home. Your Minneapolis Dentist will help by performing the necessary dental procedure routines to achieve this goal during your visit.
A simple inspection by your dentist during your visit is a good form of preventive care. The visit allows your dentist to check your mouth for possible dental issues that certain treatments or habits can help you prevent or halt.
Some dental issues are pressure from wisdom teeth, gum disease, worn teeth, cracked teeth, and other dental issues. The thorough scrub during a dental cleaning procedure may not feel pleasant, but it’s one of the right preventive care that can help you stop many terrible dental issues from ever developing or progressing.
Preventive dentistry is important for everyone, regardless of age. It helps children to have strong and healthy permanent teeth when they become adults.
Preventive dentistry goals also include reducing the negative impact of poor oral health on the total well-being of an individual. Maintaining good oral health reduces your vulnerability to other health problems. Poor oral health has been linked to many health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, and cancer.
What Does Preventive Dentistry Do?
Preventive
dentistry
prevents
future
dental
problems.
Good
dental
care
can
help
avoid
or
reduce
the
effects
of:
- Cavity
- Gingivitis
- Loss
of
enamel
- Periodontitis
Everyone
benefits
from
preventive
dentistry.
Children
especially
benefit
from
this
as
their
newly
developed
adult
teeth
grow
strong
and
healthy.
Tooth
sealants
and
topical
fluoride
treatments
can
help
prevent
cavities
in
children's
teeth. For
older
adults,
preventive
dentistry
can
help
keep
real
teeth.
Oral
health
is
directly
linked
to
overall
health.
Because
the
mouth
is
a
breeding
ground
for
harmful
bacteria.
Keeping
your
mouth
clean
helps
your
overall
health.
Preventive Dentistry Care
The following are different ways by which you can work with your dentist to protect your oral health:
1. Mouth Guards
Custom mouth guards help patients restore teeth that may be damaged due to grinding, especially at night.
2. Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth-colored fillings help patients to prevent further decay and damage to their teeth in the event of a cavity discovery. This discourages the cavity from festering or growing to affect your entire tooth.
3. Tooth Extractions
While your Minneapolis dentist will try his best to save your natural teeth, he may need to get rid of a tooth that’s damaged beyond repair if it will be consequential to your oral and overall health. Tooth extraction isn’t a painful procedure. Your dentist will do everything possible to ensure your comfort during and after the process.
4. Dental Cleaning
Dental cleaning is necessary and beneficial for patients. There are areas in your mouth that will not get to your brush. There are also tight spots where plagues easily build up. Your dentist will polish your teeth after cleaning them.
5. Dental Exams
During this examination, your doctor will look at signs of chips, wear, tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer after cleaning your teeth. This is an important step in preventive dentistry. Your Preventive Dentist
will also look into your oral health medical history to advise you.
At-Home Oral Hygiene Routine
Preventive dentistry goes beyond what your Preventive Dentist can do for you. As earlier mentioned, it also includes the things you can do yourself at home to keep your mouth, gum, and teeth healthy. Brush your teeth daily, at least two times. Use mouthwash and follow other things in the oral hygiene guideline that your dentist recommends for you. Sticking to a good oral hygiene routine is essential to prevent painful and costly dental consequences such as tooth loss, tooth decay, and gum disease.
See Your Dentist Regularly
Ultimately, the goals of preventive dentistry is to keep your teeth and smile healthy for the rest of your life. Parkway Dental Centeroffers comprehensive general and cosmetic dentistry services to patients in Minneapolis, MN.
If you’re looking for a knowledgeable and compassionate dentist, please contact Dentist Minneapolis
online or call our office at (612) 824-4211 to schedule your personal consultation
