Preventative Dentistry
The Hygiene Appointment • Professional Fluoride Treatment • Sealants
Daily Preventative Care
Your daily homecare routine, along with regular visits to your dental professional will go a long way towards maintaining optimal oral health.
Daily brushing and flossing remove bacteria from the mouth. If allowed to build-up, bacteria adheres to the teeth, tongue and soft tissue which becomes plaque. Over time, plaque mineralizes into a hard substance called calculus or tarter, both above and below the gumline.
Only professional cleanings can remove calculus.
Inadequate plaque control is the primary cause of gingivitis (inflamed gums), periodontitis (gum disease), and oral malodor (bad breath). Unhealthy oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with gum disease enters your bloodstream, which can increase your risk of other health problems.
Patients can minimize plaque through regular brushing, flossing, tongue scraping and dental hygiene appointments. Along with proper home care and a balanced diet, we can help you maintain a healthy smile that will last you a lifetime!
The Hygiene Appointment
Professional cleanings and assessments will enable dental professionals to evaluate your oral health status and provide guidance to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Regular preventive dental visits allow problems to be identified early while they can be fixed easily and painlessly.
During a preventative hygiene appointment, scaling instruments are used to remove the build-up of plaque and calculus (tarter) from teeth and soft tissue and teeth are usually polished to remove stain and plaque not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.
The hygienist and dentist may:
• Screen for oral cancer and other diseases
• Evaluate supporting bone structure for periodontal disease
• Check for cavities
• Assess the integrity of existing dental restorations
• Take x-rays to detect decay and bone loss
• Apply fluoride
Professional Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in ground and surface water, rocks and many foods. Since the introduction of fluoride into some public water supplies more than 50 years ago, the incidence of cavities in those areas has declined dramatically by remineralizing and
strengthening developing permanent teeth. Fluoride is beneficial where there are:
• Deep pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of teeth.
• Exposed and sensitive root surfaces.
• Fair to poor oral hygiene habits.
• Frequent sugar and carbohydrate intake.
• Inadequate exposure to fluorides.
• Inadequate saliva flow due to medical conditions, medical treatments or medications.
• Recent history of dental decay.
Treatment options vary according to each patient’s susceptibility to decay, level of tooth sensitivity, periodontal (gum) condition and restorations. Professional fluoride treatment, combined with a daily remineralzing toothpaste will enhance
the ability of your tooth surface to resist acid attacks and decay.
Sealants
Like fluoride, dental sealants can give today’s children a head start on good oral health. A sealant is a thin, plastic coating applied to the chewing surface of back teeth and any deep grooves (called pits and fissures) of teeth.
A sealant protects the teeth by sealing deep grooves, creating a smooth, easy to clean surface.
Sealants are most beneficial when applied to the permanent teeth as soon as they grow in. It takes only minutes to apply and local anaesthetic and tooth preparation is not required. Sealants last several years and are checked for wear and chipping at regular dental visits.
It is important to note that sealants do not eliminate the need for daily home care.
Children still should be taught to brush with fluoride tooth paste and floss daily.