Preventative Dental Care involves regular dental exams to help protect your oral health and general well-being. It also involves promoting optimal tooth and gum health through patient education of adopting good oral hygiene practices to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. In having good oral hygiene, patients can avoid cavities, gingivitis (inflammation of gum tissue), periodontal disease (gum disease), and enamel loss.
Maintaining optimal oral health requires daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups and cleanings at least twice a year for both adults, children, and adolescents to ensure teeth are clean, strong, and healthy.
In providing preventative dental care, Dr. Reece focuses on Health-Centered Dentistry, which is a whole-body approach to dental care. In her experience, Dr. Reece has seen how poor growth and development during infant and childhood years can affect people’s oral health as well as their whole body health into their adult years. With this knowledge and her years of learning through continued education and experience, she is better equipped to help treat and direct her patients’ oral health to improve their whole body health.
Good oral health is important, and proper, preventative dental care helps patients avoid or lessen the effects of developing dental problems in the future.
Preventative Dentistry also helps educate patients on the importance of good oral health. Since the mouth is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, it is essential to maintain a clean mouth to benefit your overall health. Maintaining good oral health greatly reduces your risks of getting cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, and further reduces your risks of developing secondary health problems (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, cancer) due to poor oral health.
It is important to develop and maintain good oral hygiene to keep your teeth healthy. Here are some tips on caring for your teeth:
You should limit your sugar intake because sugar is harmful to your teeth. Cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that attack tooth enamel. It is, therefore, important to eat a well-balanced diet and limit between-meal snacking for a healthy mouth.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that when selecting a toothpaste, look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The seal gives you the assurance that you are choosing the best toothpaste for your dental needs, and that the toothpaste has met the ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness.
At Advanced Dentistry of Kearney, our comprehensive Preventative Dental Care services include a complete review of medical and dental history and regular dental exams for patients of all ages. These are an important part of preventative health care.
During your visit, Dr. Reece will discuss your diet and oral hygiene habits, including proper brushing and flossing techniques, and the effect your medications or use of tobacco products may have on your oral health.
If you have other concerns you would like to discuss such as the consequence of tooth loss; the benefits of crowns, fixed bridges, or dental implants; or your desire for cosmetic procedures, this would be the ideal time to discuss these concerns.
During your exam, one of our dental hygienists will clean your teeth, identify any gum inflammation or bone loss, and evaluate your risk of developing tooth decay and other oral health problems. They’ll also check your face, mouth, neck, and jaw for any abnormalities. Your exam may also include 3D digital x-rays, which provide complete visual information for Dr. Reece to study your case from every angle, or another diagnostic procedure such as an oral cancer screening.
At the conclusion of your visit, Dr. Reece will discuss all your options with you and help you come up with an oral health plan that suits your needs.
During these exams, Dr. Reece or one of our hygienists will likely discuss your child’s diet and oral hygiene habits. They’ll also demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques to make sure your child or adolescent is getting the most out of their at-home cleanings. Other topics for discussion might include preventing oral injuries and the health risks involved with tobacco, substance abuse, and oral piercings.
Contact Advanced Dentistry of Kearney today at (308) 237-1311 to schedule your family’s comprehensive Preventative Dental Care services.
