Almost everyone knows the importance of home oral care in preventing cavities and gum disease. But what about dental visits? How important are dental checkups or routine dental cleanings to your oral health? Both you and your dentist play a role in keeping your smile strong and healthy. At Glow Dental Co., we offer various preventive dentistry services that can benefit our Austin, Texas, patients. Through these FAQs, Dr. Kelsi Lewis explains more about preventive dentistry and the role your dentist plays in preserving the quality of your smile.
What is preventive dentistry?
Preventive dentistry is all about preserving the health and beauty of your smile. Services aim to prevent dental problems that can be detrimental to oral health. These problems can range from enamel erosion to tooth damage, oral infections, cavities, and gum disease.
What dental services are part of preventive dental care?
Dr. Lewis and our team offer such preventive services as routine checkups, professional cleanings, digital x-rays, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants. Through regular checkups, we can uncover dental problems quicker and nip them in the bud to keep them from spreading. Through routine cleanings, we can eliminate harmful plaque and tartar from your teeth to protect you from decay and gum disease. Fluoride treatments and dental sealants help strengthen and protect your teeth from cavities. Dental x-rays help uncover hidden dental issues, especially beneath the gum line, where harmful bacteria can gather and breed.
How often should I see my dentist for preventive care?
If you have good oral health, Dr. Lewis can see you twice annually for checkups and cleanings. If you’re struggling with decay or gum disease, we should see you more often every four months to help you manage these conditions. After assessing your oral health, we can determine your best preventive dental care schedule.
Why is preventive dental care so important?
Problems like decay, pulpal tooth infections, and gum disease can weaken or damage your gums and teeth. Irreparable damage could lead to losing natural teeth. Through preventive dental care, Dr. Lewis and our team can minimize your risk of harmful dental issues or prevent them altogether to preserve oral health. If problems arise, we can catch them early to contain the damage before it becomes severe. Treating problems quickly will make it easier to restore your oral health.
Are dental x-rays really necessary?
Yes! Dental x-rays reveal hidden dental issues or abnormalities that can’t be detected with a visual checkup. Dr. Lewis may use x-rays to check your bone health under the gum line, inspect the development of wisdom teeth, uncover hidden decay between your teeth, or identify other problems that must be addressed.
Where can I go for quality preventive dentistry services near me?
If you live in or near Austin, TX, visit Glow Dental Co. for preventive dental care. To schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Kelsi Lewis.