Preventive Dentistry
Preventive dentistry is a type of dental care that is focused on the reduction and prevention of oral health problems. The goal of preventive dentistry is to maintain good oral health and protect your mouth from tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems.
Preventive dentistry begins with a visit to your dentist twice a year for an oral examination that includes an assessment of any potential problems such as tooth decay or gum disease. It’s important to have routine examinations because it’s possible for deterioration or infections to occur in your mouth without you even knowing about it.
Preventative Dentistry is a type of dental care that focuses on keeping teeth healthy. Regular dental examinations and the development of healthy habits like brushing and flossing are both necessary. Taking care of your teeth begins early in infancy and continues through adulthood. Preventive Dental Care in Airdrie can help you stay on track.
What Regular Preventative Dental Care Services Are Provided?
Preventive dental care treatments consist of
- Regular dental examinations, typically every six months, and X-rays when needed
- Good home habits like teeth brushing
- Depending on the type of dental plan you have, your coverage for preventive care may be totally covered.
What to Expect from Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dental care is intended to help you avoid cavities and other oral diseases. Your dental provider conducts a thorough oral examination and records and analyzes the findings in your chart for future reference. If any problems are found, they can be treated early before they require more extensive treatment.
Preventive dental treatment services may also recommend ways for you to improve your overall health and lifestyle, changing habits that influence the health of your teeth. For example, if you smoke or drink tea and coffee regularly, it can help to start drinking more water as it contains no sugar or acids – both of which can eat away at enamel and speed up tooth decay.
Which Services or Procedures Are Considered Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dental treatment services may include the following:
- Every six months, you should visit your dentist for a routine examination. This is for cleaning and examination. At this time your dentist will see if anything needs to be done to keep your teeth healthy. It’s also when they check whether you’re brushing and flossing regularly.
- Airdrie dental care may also prescribe a fluoride treatment to help keep your teeth stronger and reduce the amount of tooth decay you might experience later on.
- Oral evaluations (check-ups) – Preventive dental care is vital for your overall oral hygiene and health, especially if you’re a smoker or have sensitivity to certain foods. By practicing good oral hygiene and staying away from smoking, coffee, and tea you can dramatically reduce the risk of more serious problems like periodontitis (gum disease), cavities, tooth loss, and many others. The use of tobacco products such as cigarettes is known to cause oral disease and damage to teeth.
- Dental X-rays – An X-ray is a form of radiation that emits high-intensity beams of invisible radiation in the form of electromagnetic waves. An X-ray uses the same principle as visible light, but with a much higher frequency and density and it allows the doctor to see inside your teeth.
- Fluoride treatments, especially for children – A fluoride treatment helps prevent tooth decay by raising the pH level of the teeth and strengthening the enamel.
- Dental Sealants – These are plastic coatings applied to your teeth to prevent tooth decay, and preventive dental care in Airdrie can help you with it.
- In special circumstances, preventive resin restorations or decay-arresting medication is applied to teeth, typically given to children at high risk for developing decay.
Importance of Preventative Dentistry for Children’s Oral Health
You probably felt the same way many other parents did when you first held your baby in your arms. You probably felt a growing need to safeguard this new infant as your parental instincts took over. Those same instincts should kick in when we consider our children’s oral health. We frequently overlook the significance of caring for our teeth, and often our kids’ teeth as well. However, one of the most important things you can do to safeguard children’s general health is preventative dentistry.
What’s so special about taking your children to the dentist frequently? They’re going to lose their baby teeth and get adult teeth in their place, right? Unfortunately, a lot of parents use this argument to avoid taking their kids to the dentist. This is risky and could ruin your child’s oral health permanently.
As soon as your child gets their first tooth, you should start caring for their dental health, and you start researching on the web with, “dentist near me”. Early intervention from Airdrie dental care can ensure a lifetime of good oral health.
What Advantages Does Preventive Dental Care Offer?
You can benefit from routine preventative dental exams for your oral health in the following ways:
- It reduces the likelihood that you may experience tooth decay, gum disease, and more severe dental issues.
- It encourages proper oral hygiene practices like flossing and brushing your teeth at least twice daily.
- Early detection of dental issues may reduce the need for treatment and associated costs.
- It allows your dentist to conduct a thorough examination of your mouth, jaw, etc. to find any potential issues.
- It can reduce dental issues caused by several long-term medical disorders. Dental and oral health can be impacted by a variety of diseases and conditions, including diabetes, osteoporosis, some malignancies, and eating disorders. Regular preventative dental care is crucial for the overall health of patients with chronic diseases.
Preventive dentistry reduces your risk for the following conditions:
- Tooth decay (cavities)
- Gum disease (periodontal disease)
- Receding gums
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Tooth loss
- Abnormal tooth wear
Types of Dentists that Offer Preventive Dental Care in Airdrie, Alberta
- General Dentist
Your primary dental care provider is a general dentist. Your dental health needs, including gum care, root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and preventive education, are diagnosed, treated, and managed by this dentist.
- Pediatric dentist (children’s dentist)
From infancy to adolescence, pediatric dentists are committed to the dental health of children. They have the training and knowledge necessary to take care of a child’s teeth, gums, and mouth throughout all childhood.
What’s Your Role in Preventive Dental Care and Treatment?
- At-Home Oral Hygiene
- Brush at least twice daily
- Floss at least once daily
- Eat healthy
- Avoid tobacco use
- Regular Dental Visits
Does My Dental Plan Cover Preventive Dental Care?
- Cleanings: You may only be covered for 2 cleanings a year—one every 6 months.
- Fluoride treatments: These are considered preventive-only for children under a certain age.
- X-rays: Only certain kinds of dental X-rays—usually bitewing—are covered as routine or preventive and only for a limited number of views.
What is the Cost of Preventive Dental Care?
The average cost of an adult checkup and cleaning varies and is also dependent on the type of insurance coverage you have.
Schedule Your Appointment Today with Airdrie Springs Dental for Preventive Dental Care for the whole family.
Is it time for your next preventive dental care? Contact Airdrie Springs Dental today or book your appointment online with our trusted family dentist for preventive dental care in Airdrie, Alberta. We also offer same-day appointments if you need Emergency Dental services in Airdrie, Alberta.
About Our Dentist
Dr. Hubert Ng, D.M.D, has been part of Airdrie Springs Dental since 2007. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Calgary with honours in Biological Sciences and Commerce. He has completed comprehensive training in orthodontics and Invisalign, oral sedation, and sleep apnea medicine. Dr. Ng believes in educating his patients and keeping them involved with their care every step of the way. He finds it extra rewarding when patients reach their goal of comfort and confidence in their smile and oral health.
