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Practicing preventative dentistry in Sheepshead Bay will help you maintain strong, healthy teeth and gums. There are many advantages to a good preventative dentistry routine, not least in that it can help protect overall health.
In this guide, you will learn more about preventative dentistry, its importance, benefits, and a brief overview of the preventative dentistry treatments and services we provide at VitaDent.
We describe how our approach to preventative dentistry is tailored to your unique oral health requirements. Discover potential risk factors and learn how we evaluate them.
What Is Preventative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry involves the use of treatments and regular daily oral care routines to care for teeth and gums properly. Preventative dental care can help reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease, allowing your teeth to remain healthy for longer, and potentially for a lifetime.
Following a good preventative oral care routine, when combined with professional dental care, can help you avoid more serious dental problems and reduce the risk of tooth loss in the future.
Why Is Preventative Dentistry So Important?
Dr. Igor Levin and our entire dental team at VitaDent strongly prefer a preventive approach to dental care—some of the reasons why are outlined below.
Maintaining Oral Health and Overall Health
Preventative dentistry is the easiest way to maintain a healthy mouth. Equally importantly, it helps detect your overall health as both are intimately linked.
By taking care of your teeth and gums, you can help prevent serious health conditions from developing or worsening if they are already present. Over time, it can help you enjoy lower medical bills.
Early Detection Helps Avoid Costly Procedures
Preventative dentistry focuses on maintaining good oral health and detecting any changes early during your regular dental exams and hygiene appointments. When we can detect small problems sooner, it helps avoid the need for costly procedures later, saving you money while protecting and preserving your natural teeth.
Helping Natural Teeth Last Longer
Your natural teeth are meant to last for life. They are designed to help you eat and talk comfortably. However, they can only do this if they are properly maintained. Preventative dentistry helps keep your teeth and gums healthy for longer.
Reducing Your Risk of Pain and Dental Emergencies
A severe tooth infection can be extremely painful and can even affect overall health. Regular preventative dentistry helps prevent pain and infection by detecting problems earlier. It also reduces the risk of needing to find an emergency dentist urgently.
Our Preventative Dentistry Treatments
Our preventative dental care treatments include:
Professional teeth cleanings
Oral cancer screenings
Dental exams
Custom mouthguards
Professional Teeth Cleanings
Having your teeth professionally cleaned is extremely important for maintaining good dental health. Even if you practice good oral care at home, plaque and tartar can still build up. Removing these substances professionally helps prevent common dental problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer survival rates are significantly better when this condition is detected earlier, and treatment is much more effective and less invasive.
Dentists are specially trained to detect symptoms that could be precancerous or cancerous and which require further investigation. Oral cancer screenings are fast, non-invasive, and painless.
Dental Exams
Everyone requires regular dental exams, typically every six months or more frequently if they are at a higher risk of developing dental problems.
It’s essential to schedule regular dental checkups, even if you believe your teeth and gums are strong and healthy. Small issues can cause few, if any, symptoms, but at this stage, they are much easier to treat.
Custom Mouthguards
VitaDent can provide custom, 3D printed mouthguards. These are designed to provide maximum protection for your teeth, gums, and jaws. They are useful when treating bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding).
A custom mouthguard is essential if you enjoy playing sports and could take a blow to the mouth. It’s important to remember that it’s not just contact sports that carry this risk. Many non-contact sports, such as gymnastics and horse riding, can result in dental injuries.
Custom Preventative Dentistry Tailored to Your Needs
As you go through life, your dental health needs change. Therefore, every preventative dental care plan we produce is tailored to accommodate your age, current dental health, and any medical conditions that impact oral health.
Children
Children have significantly different oral care needs compared to adults, as their teeth and jaws are still developing. Preventative dentistry focuses on helping newly erupted teeth remain healthy and strong, and teaches children, parents, and caregivers how to care for their teeth and gums at home.
Preventative dentistry may include treatments such as sealants and fluoride applications, as well as hygiene instructions. Early orthodontic evaluations may also be recommended as soon as age 5 or 6.
Teens
Teens are often very busy, so our preventative dental care plan will help emphasize the importance of ongoing Oral care, including regular dental cleanings and dental exams. We can provide orthodontic screenings as well as custom mouthguards to protect teeth during sports.
Adults
By adulthood, most people know how to care for their teeth properly. Preventative dentistry focuses on regular dental exams and the prevention of common problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay. We can also monitor for other problems like bruxism that can significantly damage teeth and gums.
Seniors
Many people require prescription medications as they get older, which can affect oral health. One common side effect is dry mouth, which can increase the risk of oral diseases since the bacteria thrive in drier conditions.
We can adjust preventative dental plans to accommodate these changes. We also monitor teeth and gums for signs of wear and tear that may require restorative dentistry to protect oral health.
Risk Factors & Preventative Advice
When you visit VitaDent, we carefully assess your oral and overall health to help identify any potential risk factors. These can include:
- Smoking
- Medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
- Lifestyle habits.
- Diabetes or other medical conditions.
Once we have identified possible risk factors, we can provide preventative strategies for patients at higher risk. These may include professional dental care treatments and preventative advice.
FREQUENTLY Asked Questions
How Often Should I Get a Dental Exam?
Most people need to see our dentist every six months, but this can vary. For example, if you have any risk factors, we may recommend more frequent dental checkups to help prevent oral health problems.
How Often Should I Have My Teeth Cleaned Professionally?
Most people will benefit from professional dental cleanings every six months, making it easy to schedule them in conjunction with your regular dental exams.
However, you don’t need to see a dentist to benefit from a dental cleaning, and some people may need this treatment more frequently, especially if you have any existing oral or general health problems.
Will I Need Dental X-Rays at Every Visit?
Digital dental X-rays are a useful diagnostic tool, but it is unlikely you would need them at every visit. We only take dental X-rays as required to monitor dental health or identify any potential problems.
Are Fluoride Treatments Just for Kids?
Adults can also benefit from professional fluoride treatments, which are an easy, quick, and cost-effective procedure.
At VitaDent Brooklyn Dental Group, our experienced team of dentists and hygienists is dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy smile for life with personalized preventative dentistry. From regular cleanings and exams to custom mouthguards and fluoride treatments, we make it easy to protect your teeth and gums at every age. Call (718) 766-0002 today to schedule your visit at our dental office on Avenue X in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn (11235) and keep your smile strong, bright, and healthy.
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