How Does Preventive Dentistry Improve Oral Health?

Preventive dental care includes all dental care practices aimed at keeping one's teeth, gums, and overall mouth healthy and disease-free. It involves at-home oral hygiene practices, regular dental exams, teeth cleanings, and x-rays. 

What Does Preventive Dentistry Include?

Preventive dentistry means catching issues before they can become major, more expensive problems. It also means preventing problems from occurring at all. Preventive dental care typically includes the following:

• Dental checkups and preventive exams

Enamel erosion, gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer can occur when patients neglect their preventative dental care. To protect themselves from these conditions, patients should visit their dentist at least twice a year for a routine cleaning and exam. During these visits, patients should discuss their oral health with their dentist to ensure their teeth and gums remain in a healthy condition.

• Dental cleanings

Visiting the dentist every six months for a dental checkup and cleaning is one of the best preventative measures you can take for your teeth. While it's important to brush and floss each day, it's even more important to visit your dentist for a cleaning. Professional cleanings can remove plaque buildup on the teeth that your toothbrush and floss can't.

• Digital x-rays

Digital X-rays are important for preventative dental care. X-rays can identify the presence and severity of many different problems. This allows your dentist to effectively treat any problems before they become serious.

• Dental sealants

Dental sealants are another important part of preventative dental care. Dental sealants are made of a plastic coating that is tightly bonded to the biting surfaces of back teeth. This plastic coating creates a barrier that effectively keeps out plaque and food debris. Dental sealants are most often applied to the back teeth because they are the most difficult to clean.

• Oral cancer screening

Dentists perform oral cancer screenings at regular checkups. They are trained to identify abnormal growths and lesions that may indicate oral cancer. Early detection increases the chances of treating oral cancer successfully.

Benefits of Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dental care helps patients avoid tooth decay and gum disease. Do you want to avoid cavities, fillings, and root canals? Preventive dental care can help! Do you want to keep your teeth for a lifetime? Preventive dental care can help! Do you want to enjoy good oral health? Preventive dental care can help!

Here are the major benefits of preventive dental care:

• Less plaque and fewer cavities
• Less gum disease
• Less bad breath
• Less tooth loss
• Detection of oral cancer at the earliest

To schedule your appointment for preventive dental care,  please book an appointment at (916) 481-2001 or visit us at 1832 Avondale Ave Ste 1, Sacramento, CA 95825.