Preventative dental care in Albion is what makes the difference between good oral health that lasts a lifetime and poor oral hygiene that causes health concerns and costly dental bills. Good oral hygiene should begin when a child gets their first toothbrush and should never stop.
What Is Preventative Dental Care in Albion?
Preventive dental care is the treatment that is designed to maintain healthy teeth and prevent the onset of more serious oral issues. Let’s look at some of the common preventative dental care services.
Regularly Scheduled Oral Exams
Patients should be seen by their dentist at least every six months. This gives the dentist an opportunity to evaluate their current state of oral health and to catch any potential concerns early enough to treat or prevent the need for more invasive care.
X-rays
Dental X-rays give dentists an image of the whole tooth including the roots and the jawbone surrounding the roots. This allows early detection of any tooth damage, disease, or other serious oral or health concerns that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.
Teeth Cleaning
During these regularly scheduled oral appointments, patients will receive an oral exam and teeth cleaning. Even with an at-home brushing and flossing routine recommended at least twice per day, there are some oral hygiene issues that regular brushes just aren’t able to address.
Professional dental cleaning gives a deeper, more effective, whole-mouth clean that should be part of all appointments for preventive dental care in Albion.
Importance of Preventative Dental Care
Avoid Tartar Build Up
Plaque that is allowed to stay on the teeth longer than 24 to 72 hours begins to calcify and harden. Once it’s hardened, the plaque is now considered tartar. Tartar can only be removed with professional dental cleaning as standard toothbrushes are simply not strong enough.
Once plaque turns into tartar, it’s much more difficult to clean. Over time, it can cause serious damage to tooth enamel and gums and create tooth sensitivity. It also makes it easier for cavities to form and contributes to bad breath.
Catching Serious Dental Issues Early
Regular dental care in Albion gives patients a better chance of catching and treating more serious oral health concerns before more invasive and expensive care is required. Our dentists look for issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, receding gums, and enamel erosion.
Falling In Love with Your Smile
Teeth that are not properly cared for or professionally cleaned regularly often don’t give the patient the smile they desire. By keeping up on regular preventive dental care, patients can smile with confidence once again.
What Happens Medically or Physically If Preventative Dental Care Is Ignored?
The benefits of preventive dental care cannot be overstated. Oral health affects your overall health. Dental and gum disease is linked to many serious systemic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, to mention a few. Many patients don’t take it as seriously as they should, which can cost them in more ways than one.
Tooth Sensitivity
Sensitive teeth can be uncomfortable and even painful. If patients are experiencing increased sensitivity when eating or drinking, they should seek dental care in Albion immediately.
Tooth Loss
Teeth are generally intended to last one’s entire lifetime. Due to several genetic and lifestyle factors, this is often not possible. However, it’s the dentist’s job to help patients keep their own natural teeth as long as possible. Avoiding preventive dental appointments contributes to a higher risk of disease and damage that may be irreversible, resulting in tooth loss or the need for tooth extraction.
Chronic Bad Breath
Nothing is worse than experiencing chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis. It is uncomfortable for patients and embarrassing in social situations. Preventive dental care and regular professional cleaning help reduce this experience.
Costly Dental Treatments
Eventually, if preventative dental care is ignored long-term, patients may find it necessary to undergo more significant dental procedures. These can often be costly and undesirable.
Seek Preventative Dental Care in Albion With Albion Family Dental!
At Albion Family Dental, we promote the principles of gentle dentistry. Even if it’s been a while since the patient’s last professional cleaning or oral exam, we’re here to help! Contact our offices to schedule an appointment for dental care in Albion today! 585-589-9044