Preventive Dental Services

Preventative Dental care includes actions taken by a patient to prevent oral diseases and maintain a healthy smile for a lifetime. These actions include daily brushing with fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing, and maintaining a healthy diet – along with scheduling regular oral exams and professional cleanings.

The following dental services typically fall under the preventive dentistry umbrella

Diagnostic services utilized to catch signs of oral problems early, including:

• Oral evaluations (check-ups)
• X-ray
• Professional cleaning
• Fluoride treatments, especially for children
• Sealants are coverings that are applied to the top surfaces of permanent molars to prevent decay inside the grooves that naturally occur in these teeth.

Educational instruction provided by your dentist or dental hygienist, including:

• Techniques for proper brushing, flossing and use of other oral hygiene aid
• Nutritional and/or tobacco cessation counselling

Space maintainers for children In special circumstances, preventive resin restorations or decay arresting medication applied to teeth, typically given to children at high risk for developing decay.

During a regular dental checkup, your dentist will perform an oral exam to check for signs of decay or gum disease, abnormal tooth wear, problems with alignment or mechanics, soft tissue diseases (such as oral cancers), and more. This exam is usually followed by a professional cleaning, along with sealant and fluoride application when appropriate, to ensure a clean, healthy, and protected mouth.

Preventive dentistry services should not be ignored. Seeing your dentist regularly and preventing oral health problems can help you maintain your overall health and wellness as you age and save you time, money, and potential discomfort by avoiding serious dental diseases.

Make sure to keep up with oral exams and cleanings at regular intervals as determined by your dentist.