Preventive dentistry allows our team to safeguard your smile against the onset of issues like tooth decay and gum disease. We’re proud to offer these preventive visits, and hope to see you soon for your next checkup and cleaning. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about preventive dentistry.

Starting with a Dental Checkup

When was the last time you visited our team for a dental exam? A checkup should happen every six months, so that we have a chance to examine your smile and monitor your oral health. With preventive dentistry, we can help catch problems in the early stages and address them before they cause pain and threaten the stability of your tooth. With the exam, we will look at your teeth closely with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, so we can make a diagnosis with precision and accuracy. We look for issues like tooth decay and gum disease, and also screen for oral cancer. Remember, a routine checkup is beneficial for kids and adults of all ages!

Cleaning Your Teeth

Another key component of our preventive dentistry approach is a dental cleaning. When plaque and tartar buildup occur, brushing and flossing alone cannot remove the layers from the teeth. Leaving these layers in place could lead to bad breath and teeth stains. The enamel could become weakened to cause cavities. The inflammation in the gums could cause periodontal disease. But our team can remove these layers with precision. A dental cleaning involves our team removing the plaque and tartar buildup with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick. This process takes only a few minutes. We then polish the teeth to brighten the smile and also limit the ability of plaque and tartar buildup to occur before your next visit! You can also help limit the severity of the buildup before you see us again by brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes and flossing before going to bed each evening.

Children’s Dentistry

We offer care for little smiles too! Our team will recommend a checkup and cleaning every six months starting at around age two. But we also have unique preventive treatments to help lower the risk of tooth decay. For example, our team can apply a fluoride varnish to the teeth during each checkup visit. The fluoride strengthens the outer enamel, even weakened portions, to help prevent tooth decay. This is also why we recommend kids use a fluoride toothpaste when they brush each daily.

We also have dental sealants. Many kids have issues reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss, so food and drink particles can remain trapped there, increasing the risk of cavities. But with dental sealants, we will place a special acrylic layer over these rear molars. The application takes only a few seconds and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour. The sealants can stay in place for up to ten years and help kids avoid the onset of tooth decay!

Periodontal Health

Your gums are vital to your oral health! They not only frame your smile, but help keep your teeth firmly in place. Which is why treatment to keep gums strong is so valuable. Otherwise, you could eventually develop periodontitis, the stages of gum disease linked to adult tooth loss. Our team can help protect your gums by removing buildup every few months. But we can also conduct a deep cleaning to tackle gingivitis and the early stages of the disease. Using the same tools as a cleaning, we will remove buildup for the teeth and gums. This could take one visit or several, depending on the extent of your buildup. We then polish your teeth and may recommend routine cleaning every three to four months.

Treating Bruxism

If you grind or clench your teeth on a regular basis, this is known as bruxism and could damage teeth and impact your oral health and appearance. But we can offer relief with an oral appliance. The custom-fitted device is worn as you sleep and helps provide a barrier between the upper and lower teeth. This soft barrier then prevents further damage to the teeth.

If you have any questions about how we safeguard smiles with preventive dentistry, or if you would like to schedule a visit, then contact our team today to learn more.

Learn More About Preventive Dentistry

We want to help you maintain your best smile with a preventive approach to dental care. Schedule your appointment with Delightful Dental Care in Kansas City, MO by calling 816-942-7669.