Preventive dentistry is all dental care that helps maintain good oral health. It is a combination of checkups, regular dental routines, and developing good habits, such as brushing and flossing. Caring for your teeth begins early in childhood and extends throughout your life.
What are the most common preventive dentistry services?
Preventive dentistry services may include:
- Regular oral exams, usually once every six months
- Dental cleaning
- routine x-rays
Your dental plan may fully cover preventive care, depending on the type of dental that you have.
What is your role in preventive dental care?
Much of preventative dental care starts with you. Developing healthy dental habits in the early years can help reduce tooth decay, gum disease, and gingivitis. 1 These are the basics of good oral health:
- Brush your teeth at least twice daily (usually morning and night) using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Your dentist can recommend the best toothpaste and toothbrush for you. They can also teach you how to brush properly.
- Floss daily to remove food stuck between teeth before it turns into tartar.
- Use a mouthwash to remove any food particles left behind after you’ve flossed.
- Avoid acidic foods that can damage tooth enamel.
- Be careful with hard foods that can damage or chip teeth, such as candies, foods with bones, seeds, or fruit seeds.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products: they can cause cancer and other dental problems.
- Wear a mouth guard when playing certain sports.
- If you clench your teeth while sleeping, ask your dentist for a mouth guard to reduce gum recession.
What type of dentist provides preventive dental care?
There are many types of dentists and different dental specialties. Those who provide preventive dentistry include:
General Dentist: The general dentist is also known as a family dentist. He is your go-to provider when you need routine preventive care, such as regular dental cleanings, exams or X-rays. He also performs fillings and offers other basic dental care services. One of the main functions of your general dentist is to guide you toward proper dental care. They can identify potential problems before they become serious, help you adopt healthier habits, and refer you to a dental specialist if you need more medical help. We can be helpful to you as Virginia family dentist that helps you to maintain good oral health.
Pediatric dentist: A pediatric dentist is a dentist who works with children in child dental care. Most children start their dental care sometimes as soon as the first tooth appears. Therefore, the pediatric dentist will often continue to see children into their teens. In addition, they provide preventative dentistry services and more specialized care if needed, including some cases of extractions, fillings (fillings), and oral surgery.
What is preventive dentistry for children?
Preventive dental care can begin when the first tooth appears. 2 Preventive dentistry for children can help identify problems early in childhood before they progress and are often more expensive. Services generally include the following:
- Encouragement of good dental habits, including brushing and flossing; tips on the habit of thumb sucking; and tips on eating habits that help improve dental health
- Regular teeth cleanings and oral exams, usually once every six months
- Fluoride application (usually up to a certain age)
- Routine X-rays to monitor jaw and tooth development
- Sealants
- Appropriate Sports Mouthguards
- Referrals to see orthodontists in case of crooked teeth
- Referrals to see other dental specialists if needed
Help to identify health-related problems that may impact the child’s teeth and gums.
Review your dental plan before making an appointment with the dentist. To find out what it covers and when.
Are fillings considered preventive dental care?
Fillings or fillings are not considered preventive care. They belong to “basic restorative” services, including fillings, extractions, and root canal treatment, among other benefits. Depending on your dental plan, you might have to pay a “deductible.” coinsurance or copayment for these services.
What are the benefits of preventive dentistry?
Regular preventive dental exams offer the following benefits to your oral health: 3
- They help reduce the risks of developing tooth decay, gum disease, or more serious dental problems.
- They help promote good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing your teeth at least twice daily and flossing.
- And they allow early identification of dental problems, thus minimizing their treatment and cost.
- They allow your dentist to completely examine your mouth, jaw, neck, etc., to find any problems that might be related.
- They help reduce dental problems related to certain chronic medical conditions. Diabetes, osteoporosis, certain types of cancer, and eating disorders can impact oral and dental health. 4 For people with chronic illnesses, regular preventive dental care is important to their overall health.
At dentist in Arlington VA, we can make sure that you will be out of oral or dental issues and have a good dental health.
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