Preventive Dentistry
When you think about your health, your main focus is probably on what is happening with your body. Although this is important, you should also consider your oral health. Taking care of your teeth and gums is essential to your overall health and can help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.
Preventive dentistry is the best way to help you keep your mouth healthy. Combining good dental hygiene at home with regular visits to your dentist gives you the best chance of maintaining your oral health and keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
Prevention Is the Best Approach
A healthy, beautiful smile doesn’t just happen. To keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime, you need preventive dental care that involves more than just brushing and flossing your teeth. Your dentist can help educate you on maintaining the best oral health possible.
Some of the preventive dentistry services your dentist offers include the following:
- Dental Exams — Visiting your dentist every six months for dental exams allows them to evaluate your oral health, scan for any issues, and treat dental problems before they worsen.
- Dental Cleanings — Regularly scheduled dental cleanings will eliminate harmful plaque and tartar from your teeth, significantly reducing your chances of tooth decay and gum disease.
- Fluoride Treatments — Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay. When you visit your dentist for a dental exam and cleaning, they will provide a fluoride treatment to remineralize your tooth enamel.
- Dental Sealants — As part of a preventive dental plan, sealants are used to shield your teeth from the harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay.
- X-rays —Dental x-rays can help your dentist identify and treat any underlying dental concerns. This can help you maintain your smile.
Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
Your dentist has the expertise to help you maintain your oral health, so when you are ready to learn more about preventive dentistry, contact our dental office to schedule an appointment.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Even with excellent hygiene habits, it's easy to miss small areas of your teeth. Over time, the missed plaque will harden into tartar, which can only be removed with a dental hygienist's tools. When tartar accumulates beneath the gum line, the end result is red, puffy, inflamed gums – the beginnings of periodontal disease.
Our Team
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Dr. Bernadette Dunlap
Dr. Dunlap is committed to delivering exceptional dental care with compassion and expertise. With over 25 years of experience, she provides a gentle, patient-centered approach that gives every patient a reason to smile.
Dr. Dunlap graduated with honors from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Nebraska in 1994. Her passion for dentistry drives her to continuously pursue advanced education and training, ensuring she offers the most current techniques and treatments in general dentistry. Her areas of special interest include Invisalign, Biolase laser dentistry, same-day crowns and bridges, teeth whitening, children's dentistry, ...
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Preventive Dentistry Technology
Digital X-Rays
Modern digital dental x-rays benefit patients in a number of ways:
- Digital x-rays expose patients to considerably less radiation than conventional film x-rays.
- Digital x-rays require almost no time for development, reducing time spent waiting in the dental chair.
- Digital x-rays allow for incredibly precise and accurate images for timely diagnoses.
- Digital x-rays are securely stored in your digital file and can be securely sent to your insurance company or specialists, when necessary.
Because no chemicals are needed for developing and no space is needed for film storage, digital x-rays are better for the environment.