Preventive dental care
Regular examinations, early detection and practical advice — the care that keeps small problems from becoming expensive ones.
- Typical appointment
- 30–45 minutes
What it is
Preventive care is everything done to stop dental problems starting, or to catch them while they are still small: routine examinations, X-rays where indicated, fluoride application, fissure sealants for children, and advice tailored to your own risk.
Why it matters more than anything else we do
Tooth decay and gum disease both develop quietly. Neither hurts in its early stages, which is precisely the stage at which both are simplest and cheapest to treat. By the time a tooth aches, the options have usually narrowed and the cost has usually risen.
A filling placed early is a small procedure. The same tooth left for two years may need a root canal and a crown. The dentistry has not become better in the meantime — the problem has just grown.
What a preventive visit involves
- Examination of every tooth, the gums, and the soft tissues of the mouth
- X-rays if there is a reason to look between or beneath the teeth
- An assessment of your individual risk — diet, brushing, smoking, dry mouth, medical conditions such as diabetes
- Cleaning where needed (see scaling and polishing)
- Practical advice you can actually apply
For children
Children benefit from fissure sealants — a thin protective coating over the grooves of the back teeth, where decay most often starts. Fluoride application strengthens developing enamel. Both are quick, painless and considerably cheaper than treating the decay they prevent.
Bringing a child early, before anything hurts, also means their first experience of a dental clinic is an uneventful one. That matters more than it sounds.
How often
Most people are seen every six months. Your dentist may suggest a different interval depending on your gum health, decay history, smoking, and any medical conditions that affect the mouth.