Preventative

In the journey towards optimal oral health, the saying, “prevention is better than cure,” has never been more relevant. Preventative dental care is about more than just routine visits to the dentist; it’s a daily, lifelong commitment. By instilling these practices early, families can embark on a path that avoids dental complications and ensures the endurance of vibrant, healthy smiles into the future.

The Cornerstones of Preventative Dental Care

1. Regular Dental Check-ups: Routine examinations allow for early detection of potential issues, stopping them in their tracks before they develop into major problems. For children, these visits also build a foundation of trust and familiarity with dental care, easing dental anxiety.

2. Professional Cleanings: Beyond daily brushing and flossing, professional cleanings remove hardened plaque (tartar), polish your teeth, and provide an opportunity for personalized advice on at-home oral hygiene practices.

3. Sealants and Fluoride Treatments: Particularly for children, these treatments provide an extra line of defense. Sealants protect the grooved areas of teeth where food particles often get trapped, and fluoride strengthens enamel, helping to ward off cavities.

Empowering At-Home Dental Care Practices

• Educating on Proper Brushing and Flossing: Understanding the right techniques is crucial. Parents can lead by example, turning brushing and flossing into a family activity.
• Nutritional Guidance: Healthy eating habits contribute significantly to oral health. Limiting sugary snacks and acidic beverages preserves dental integrity.
• Injury Prevention: For active families, using mouthguards during sports can prevent tooth damage or loss.

The Benefits of a Preventative Mindset

• Cost-Effective: Preventing dental diseases rather than treating them eliminates the financial burden of extensive procedures.
• Preservation of Natural Dentition: Keeping your original teeth is ideal for proper chewing function and maintaining facial structures.
• Boosting Confidence: A healthy smile improves self-esteem and encourages social interaction.
• Holistic Health: Good oral health often reflects and contributes to good overall health.

Subtitle: Special Considerations for Children

• Fostering a Positive Dental Attitude: Early, pleasant, and non-threatening dental experiences help children view dental care positively.
• Monitoring Development: Regular visits help track and manage the development of a child’s jaw and teeth, spotting any orthodontic needs early.

Preventative care is a team effort, involving the dedication of both the dental professionals and the family. Ensuring you and your children engage in these practices doesn’t just safeguard your oral health; it’s an investment in your overall well-being. By embracing preventative dentistry today, you’re taking a crucial step toward a healthier, happier tomorrow. Reach out to us to be your partners in this essential journey, because every smile tells a story, and we’re here to make yours a tale of health and confidence.

In a situation where there is not enough remaining solid tooth structure after decay and fragile tooth structure is removed, or the tooth has fractured and is now missing important architectural reinforcements, the tooth might very well require an extracoronal restoration: a restoration consisting of a dental material that will exist around the remaining tooth structure to a varying degree. Restorations that fall into this category include the various types of crowns and onlays, and these can consist of a number of materials as well, including gold, ceramic, or a combination of the two. Ceramic crowns are increasingly being substituted in place of gold crowns for aesthetic and structural reasons. In a recent study, only 1.7% of the ceramic crowns needed to be replaced after 2 years, with 3.7% showing occlusal chipping without need of replacement.

The circumstance of the damaged tooth defines the restoration. In other words, based upon factors such as remaining solid tooth structure, aesthetics, the location of the tooth within the dental arch and the consequent forces of function that said tooth will have to deal with once restored, Dr. Nader Ahdout will then decide on the proper way to treat the tooth.

Things are not always straightforward when it comes to restoring a tooth. An advantage of crowning a tooth over restoring the tooth with an excessively large pin-supported amalgam or composite restoration is that crowns provide much more protection against future fracture or recurrent decay. The indirect techniques of crown fabrication translate into a more adapted tooth-restoration margin, and thus a better seal against the decay-causing bacteria present in saliva.