We want to help our patients avoid poor oral health, preventing the need for fillings, crowns, or replacement teeth too. Which is why we take a preventive approach to family dentistry! In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about protecting smiles with a preventive approach.

Starting with a Preventive Dental Exam

We want to see every member of your family for a routine checkup and cleaning visit every six months. When you check in for an exam every few months, we can monitor your smile and catch issues that could threaten your oral health and smile stability in the early stages, often before you even experience uncomfortable symptoms. Our team will conduct a detailed diagnosis with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, which provide instant high-definition images and use a fraction of the radiation.

Our team will look for issues like tooth decay, infection, gingivitis, and even gum disease, while also screening for oral cancer and watching for common concerns like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). For kids, we also make sure baby teeth erupt and fall out on schedule, so permanent teeth have a clear path to arrival.

The Cleaning Process

Preventive dentistry also involves a seemingly minor procedure that can help protect both the teeth and gums. Over time, plaque and tartar will coat your teeth and if left in place, this could lead to bad breath, teeth stains, cavities, and even gum disease. But we can conduct a cleaning in the same visit as your exam to remove these layers completely. Using an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. Our team will gently but thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth and along the gum line. We then polish the teeth to brighten them, but to also limit the ability for plaque and tartar to accumulate before we see you again for your next cleaning appointment. This is helpful for all ages, from the youngest member of your family to the oldest.

Help For Children’s Smiles

When you bring your kids in for routine checkup and cleaning visits, this not only improves their oral health, but it allows us to instill good oral health habits and help them better understand the importance of caring for their teeth and gums. The risk of dental anxiety is also much lower, as they become accustomed to seeing us, and may continue to see the dentist regularly on their own as adults!

In addition to the exam and cleaning, we also offer kids two unique preventive treatments to help lower the risk of tooth decay. With a fluoride treatment, we apply this naturally-occurring mineral to the teeth, which keeps the outer enamel strong and prevents cavities from occurring. Since children often have trouble brushing and flossing the rear teeth, we can coat these molars in a thin acrylic layer known as a dental sealant, which keeps cavities from forming in these hard-to-reach teeth! Both options take seconds to apply and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour. Fluoride’s effects can last months, and sealants can protect teeth for years to come!

Bruxism Appliances

Do you grind or clench your teeth every night? This disorder, known as bruxism, could weaken and erode teeth to alter the appearance of your smile and increase the risk of tooth decay and infection. But we can offer a comfortable and noninvasive oral appliance to bring relief. Custom-made for you, this will look and function like a mouthguard and once in place, this repositions the jaw to reduce underlying strain. This also applies a soft barrier between the upper and lower teeth to lower the risk of further damage. Our team can then offer bonding or even crowns to repair the teeth and restore the balance and appearance of your smile.

Counseling

Our team would love the chance to help counsel you about your smile, so we can offer tips for improving your diet and daily actions to better protect your teeth and gums from decay and disease, keeping your smile whole and intact for years to come. This can help kids and adults alike!

If you have any questions about our approach to preventive dentistry, or if you would like to schedule your first checkup and cleaning of 2026, then please contact our team today to learn more and get started!

Schedule a Visit for Preventive Dentistry

With routine visits every few months, our team can help safeguard your teeth and gums. To find out more about protecting your smile with preventive dentistry, or to schedule your visit, call Delightful Dental Care in Kansas City, MO at (816) 942-7669 today.