Preventative dental care is looked upon as a means to keep your dental health in check. Good oral health improves your overall quality of life. This branch of dentistry includes a combination of dental check-ups and examinations and developing healthy oral care habits like brushing and flossing your teeth.
When you start caring for your teeth at the earliest, it keeps many dental problems at bay. Preventative dental care begins from childhood and extends throughout your life.
Types of Preventative Dental Procedures
Professional Dental Cleaning
Over time, your teeth may become exposed to substances like tartar, plaque, bacteria, and germs. If such build-up is not removed, it reaches your gum line and leads to severe gum infection. Professional dental cleaning involves cleaning such deposits from the surface of your teeth so that no infection or decay occurs.
Dental Sealants
Sealants are referred to as a thin coating that we apply on the chewing surface of your molars and premolars to protect them from tooth decay. The material seeps into your pits and fissures where the bacteria gather, thus keeping cavities from forming.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that makes your teeth stronger and resistant to cavities and decay. We offer fluoride treatment to all patients who do not get enough fluoride. The procedure involves applying a fluoride gel on your teeth, leaving it for a few minutes and then rinsing your mouth. Do not eat or drink anything after two hours of the procedure. We may also give you fluoride toothpaste to maintain the results.
Dental Examination
Regular dental check-ups and examinations constitute an integral part of preventative dentistry. When you visit us for dental examinations, we check your mouth thoroughly for infections, bacteria, and other problems. Upon finding the signs and symptoms of cavities, decay, or periodontal disease, we perform a suitable treatment. The procedure also involves taking digital X-rays of your mouth.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer screening is designed to detect oral cancer at an early stage so that it is treated at the right time. We include these screenings as a part of your regular dental check-ups. Oral cancer screenings involve a physical and visual examination of your mouth, teeth, gums, neck, and throat.
Mouthguards
Protecting your teeth from wear and tear is vital for good oral health. Habits like night-time teeth grinding or bruxism can wear down tooth surfaces, cause gum disease, lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), increase the risk of tooth decay, and may even lead to eventual tooth loss. Custom-made mouthguards help protect teeth from injury due to night-time teeth grinding and impact injuries.
Please reach out to our dental practice in Soldotna, AK, to have a consultation with our dentist, Dr. Hudson. Please call us at (907) 262-5454 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.