Preventive dentistry deals with the specific care taken prior to the onset of an oral disease that eliminates the possibility of the disease to occur.
The main aim is to avoid cavities, gum infections, enamel wear, tooth loss and more. With the advent of years of refined diet, we have become more susceptible to oral diseases and hence maintaining them has become extremely important. With advancements in dentistry, prevention of oral diseases has become easier. Maintenance of oral hygiene has to be practiced from an early age.
The daily routines of brushing and flossing twice and visiting a dentist with 6 months follow up are the simplest form of preventive dentistry. Children benefit most from the preventive dentistry protocol which as it allows their newly developed adult teeth to come strong and healthy.
Preventive dentistry aims to prevent initiation and progress of dental diseases, limits their complications and also to provide rehabilitation.
Preventive Dentistry – For The Smart Patients!
ADVANTAGES OF PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY
- Helps in the maintenance of the health of gums and teeth.
- Prevents the occurrence of cavities and caries.
- Prevents gum diseases
- Prevents or reduces the chances of upcoming crooked teeth.
PREVENTION OF DENTAL DECAY
- Pit and fissure sealants:
- The chewing surface of back teeth has pits and fissures where food and debris get trapped and cause cavities.
- To prevent the cavities pit and fissures are filled using pit and fissure sealants
- Sealants are a safe and painless way to prevent tooth decay.
In this way, a protective barrier is placed on the tooth surface which keeps the tooth safe from decays.
- Fluoride application:
- Fluoride is a mineral which increases the strength of teeth and also prevents decaysand can be recommended in both children and adults.
- Fluoride gel is applied on trays and then placed on the teeth wherein it forms a strong layer thereby making the teeth resistant to decays.
- Enameloplasty:
- Enameloplasty is a cosmetic treatment option where a tooth’s enamel surface is reshaped.
- In this procedure the deep fissures and fossas are broadened which prevents food lodgement thereby preventing decay.
- As a result, during chewing, the food particles are swept away from the surface preventing the possibilities of decays.
- Habit breaking appliances – Preventive dentistry:
- Few oral habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, nail biting are harmful to the teeth and teeth supporting structures.
- The risk of dental problems is related to how often, how long and how intensely your child does the habit.
- These harmful habits can be avoided by using habit breaking appliances.
- Oral prophylaxis:
- A simple procedure of professional cleaning of teeth, dislodges the plaque deposits on the teeth and hence maintains the health of the gums.
- This procedure should be done at an interval of 6 months.
- Serial extraction:
- It’s a planned extraction of certain deciduous teeth and specific permanent teeth to guide the erupting permanent teeth into a favorable position.
- This prevents the possibility of crowding in the future. This is usually done during the age of 8 to 9 years.
- Space maintainers:
- Space maintainers are custom made appliances which are placed to maintain space for the erupting permanent teeth.
- When a primary tooth has been pulled or lost too soon, space maintainers are utilised to hold space for the coming permanent teeth.
- If the area around the extraction site is not kept clear, teeth on either side may drift into the space and prevent the permanent tooth from emerging into its ideal position leading to misalignment of the teeth.
Visit your nearest Partha dental clinic. Our clinics are available in Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai.
Prevention is always better than a cure! Visit your nearest Partha Dental Clinic today and prevent any dental disease in future!
