When was the last time you visited the dentist? We urge our patients and their families to see our team every six months, as preventive dentistry can help smiles of all ages stay healthy and strong! In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about the importance of preventive dentistry and why you should make an appointment with our team. A healthy smile is possible, and we can help!

When to See Our Team for Preventive Dentistry

When should you make an appointment for yourself or a member of your family? Obviously, you should see the dentist when a tooth is injured or begins to ache, or if you notice changes to your gums. But with preventive dentistry, we want to see you every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning, that way we can monitor your smile and catch serious trouble in the earliest stages, addressing them before you even experience discomfort or avoiding them altogether. The issues that threaten smile stability, such as cavities, infection, gingivitis, or gum disease, don’t form overnight. A visit every few months is a chance to catch them early and protect your smile from discomfort and tooth loss!

Dental Checkups

As we mentioned above, we want to see you for a checkup once every six months. During this visit, we will ask you about any symptoms of trouble you are experiencing, such as aching teeth or bleeding gums, and we will discuss your oral hygiene routine. Our team then examines your smile with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, making a diagnosis with precision and accuracy. If we discover something, we can then create a treatment plan to address or manage the concern and protect your smile. This visit is beneficial for patients of all ages, from kids as young as age two to adults.

Cleaning Your Teeth

In the same visit as your dental exam, our team will also conduct a preventive dental cleaning. With a cleaning, we will use an ultrasonic scaling device to remove plaque and tartar using gentle vibrations. We then employ a pick to remove the stubborn portions of tartar. Finally, we polish the teeth for a brighter appearance and to help fight major plaque and tartar buildup before you see us again. The process only takes a short time, but can help lower the risk of cavities and gum disease, as well as bad breath and teeth stains. We can also discuss proper brushing and flossing to limit how much plaque forms in between this appointment and your next one.

Counseling

Our team will also take time in your preventive visit to help you improve your oral hygiene habits. For example, we will discuss cutting back on sugar and carbs to help lower the risk of cavities and gum disease, and to fight bad breath and teeth stains. We could also discuss proper brushing and flossing as we mentioned above, so you can properly clean your teeth to fight the onset of poor oral health. There are also antibacterial mouthwashes we could recommend to help fight the disease and decay-causing bacteria that live in your mouth.

Treating Bruxism

Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, can lead to painful symptoms and even damage your teeth. With a custom oral appliance, we can provide a noninvasive solution to your teeth grinding. Worn at night, this fits like a mouthguard and repositions the jaw to ease underlying stress and strain. This also puts a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage to the smile. The appliance also helps address TMJ disorder, a separate but often connected oral health concern that could also be a source of discomfort, such as a popping sensation in the jaw. Of course, we can also discuss bonding or crowns to repair damage that has already occurred.

If you have any questions about our approach to preventive dentistry, or if you would like to schedule your next checkup and cleaning visit for you or a member of your family, then please reach out to our office today to get started! We look forward to helping your smile look great and avoid painful symptoms and other concerns.

Schedule Your Preventive Dental Visit With Delightful Dental Care

With preventive dentistry, our team can help you maintain good oral health and an attractive smile. You should see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months to get started on the journey to the healthy smile you deserve. To find out more about preventive dentistry, call Delightful Dental Care in Kansas City, MO at (816) 942-7669.