Preventative Dentistry

What is preventative Dentistry?

Preventative dentistry is the modern way of reducing the amount of dental treatment needed to maintain a healthy mouth. Preventative dentistry will help you keep your teeth for longer. Tooth Decay and gum disease are the 2 majors causes of tooth loss. To try to retain your natural teeth for life, you must prevent and deal with these 2 problems.

A team effort involving the Dentist, hygienist and the patient can help to prevent the need for treatment, avoiding the traditional pattern of fillings and extractions and saving you unnecessary dental bills.

For most patients, a course of treatment will be recommended and then a maintenance plan will be created to ensure your teeth and gums are looked after properly. At Synergy, we offer a range of dental plans to suit your individual needs. See our section on dental plans.

Can everyone benefit from preventative dentistry?

Yes. Preventative dentistry will benefit anyone with some of their own teeth. People who don’t have any teeth can also benefit because conditions such as mouth cancer and fungal infections can be spotted during regular visits to the dentist and then treated. It is excellent for children and young people and it is never too late to start.

What is involved?

Your dentist will first assess your teeth and gums and discuss with you the treatment that you need. The main aim is to help you get your mouth really healthy and to try to prevent any dental problems from returning. Once you have a healthy mouth, it is unlikely that decay or gum disease will be a problem.

1. Thorough scale and polish to remove all your tartar build up.
2. Oral Hygiene education sessions to show you the best methods of brushing your teeth and flossing. Also advice on best products.
3. Dietary advice
4. Preventative Fluoride application
5. Preventative ‘pit and fissure sealants’.
6. Smoking and alcohol cessation advise
7. Your dentist will also make sure that all your fillings are in good repair and there are no rough edges to make cleaning difficult.

Will my dentist recommend treatment?

A ‘preventative dentist’ will often recommend treatment to reinforce a tooth to make sure that it does not break. For example, if a crack in your tooth has been identified, the dentist may advise you of a new filling or perhaps a crown or inlay to protect the tooth. It is better to treat a crack early before it extends further and making the tooth un-treatable.