At Cranbourne Road Dental Care we believe prevention is better than a cure. Preventive dentistry means caring for your teeth to keep them healthy, to avoid tooth decay and gum disease.
Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once a day are a great place to start. Regular check ups at an interval determined by one of our dentists are important too. Caught early enough tooth decay can be halted by attempting to re-mineralise tooth enamel with Fluoride.
Preventive dentistry can also involve the placement of fissure sealants. Fissure sealants are a white plastic coating placed on deep grooves in teeth to help prevent decay from occurring in these vulnerable areas. Fissure sealants are made of a material called glass ionomer, which means they have the added benefit of releasing fluoride which also helps to prevent decay.
Another important disease to prevent in the mouth is gum disease. The two main types of gum disease we are aiming to prevent by seeing a dentist regularly are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is irritation, redness and swelling of gums caused by plaque remaining for too long around the teeth and gums. Gingivitis can be prevented with good oral hygiene.
Periodontitis is advanced gum disease that may occur if gingivitis is not treated. The gums can shrink back and in turn the bone that supports the teeth can resorb away. Periodontitis can cause the teeth to become loose and eventually if left untreated result in tooth loss.
More and more scientists are learning the secondary effects of gum disease some health problems that may be linked to poor oral health are: diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease and cancer.
Another important way to protect teeth is with a well fitting mouthguard if playing contact sports. At Cranbourne Road Dental Care we make custom fit mouthguards on site. All that is needed is an appointment to make a mould of your teeth and then we can supply you with the mouthguard (your choice of colour or clear) within a matter of days.
While preventive dentistry may not completely eliminate the need for fillings, root canals or other dental treatment. Preventive dentistry can go a long way to help to reduce your need for further costly treatments.