Preventive Dentistry
“Prevention Is Better Than Cure” is the motto adapted. Your teeth can and should last a lifetime. Prevention and early detection are key in avoiding costly and painful dental treatment. Prevention begins with the control of plaque and calculus, the main cause of decay and gum disease. The most important steps in maintaining oral health and preventing tooth decay are regular brushing and a balanced diet.
Preventive Dentistry Treatments
- Sealant* protect for your teeth and your child“s teeth with resin
- Fluoride treatment to help teeth build resistance to decay
- Caries risk assessment
- Diet counseling
- Preventive resin restoration
- Oral hygiene instruction
Oral Care for Preventive Dentistry
Brushing every day is a fundamental component to effective oral hygiene. Brush in the morning and in the evening, at least 2 minutes each session to efficiently remove plaque.
Proper Brushing Technique
- Place bristles along the gumline at a 45° angle.
- Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gumline
- use a gentle vibrating brushing back, forth & rolling motion
- Move brush to the next group of 2-3 teeth and repeat
- Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gumline
- use a gentle vibrating brushing back, forth & rolling motion
- Move brush to the next group of 2-3 teeth and repeat
Proper Brushing Technique
- Maintain a 45° angle with bristles contacting the tooth surface and gumline.
- Gently brush using back, forth & rolling motion along all of the inner tooth surfaces
- Gently brush using back, forth & rolling motion along all of the inner tooth surfaces
Proper Brushing Technique
- Tilt brush vertically behind the front teeth.
- Make several up & down strokes using the front half of the brush.
- Make several up & down strokes using the front half of the brush.
Proper Brushing Technique
- Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth & use a gentle back & forth scrubbing motion.
- Brush the tongue from back to front to remove odor-producing bacteria.
- Brush the tongue from back to front to remove odor-producing bacteria.
Proper Flossing Technique
- Wind 18" of floss around middle fingers of each hand.
- Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving 1" - 2" length in between.
- Use thumbs to direct floss between upper and lower teeth.
- Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving 1" - 2" length in between.
- Use thumbs to direct floss between upper and lower teeth.
Proper Flossing Technique
- Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion.
- Do not snap the floss between your teeth.
- Contour floss around the side of the tooth
- Do not snap the floss between your teeth.
- Contour floss around the side of the tooth
Proper Flossing Technique
-Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gumline.
- Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss
- Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss
Adpated from http://www.gumbrand.com/proper-brushing-flossing/
Related Information to Preventive Dentistry
Here are some additional resources for oral care instructions may be found on ADA's Dental Health Website
