Preventive Dentistry
Preventive dental care includes actions taken by a patient to prevent against oral
diseases and maintain a healthy smile for a lifetime. These actions include daily
brushing with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing, and maintaining a healthy
diet – along with scheduling regular oral exams and professional cleanings. At
KABERA, we strive to meet the highest ideals in our practice and exceed your
expectations at every opportunity. We look forward to welcoming you to our dental
clinic!
Preventive Dentistry at KABERA
Preventive dentistry procedures range from the most basic services that have been
used successfully for decades, to recent technological innovations. These procedures
include:
Cleanings:
This is where dental health starts. There's just no substitute for
physically removing disease-causing dental plaque and calculus (tartar) from
your teeth - especially in hard-to-reach areas near the gum line. That's why
regular professional cleanings are so important to your health.
Dental sealants:
These invisible plastic coatings fill the tiny grooves in back teeth
so they do not become havens for bacteria. They prevent cavities from forming
and the need for fillings later on.
Fluoride:
This mineral is readily incorporated into the teeth's mineral structure,
thereby making them stronger and more decay-resistant. Fluoride can even
reverse tiny cavities that are starting to form. If you are not getting enough from
your toothpaste and drinking water, it can be applied directly to your teeth at
the dental office.
Laser Decay Diagnosis:
Laser light can be used to detect early tooth decay
quickly and easily, right in the dental office - before full-blown cavities form.
Mouthguards:
Athletic mouthguards are designed to absorb and distribute the
forces of impact and minimize traumatic injury to both the hard and soft tissues
of the mouth. In fact, an athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to teeth
when not wearing a mouthguard. The best ones are custom-made for you by
your dentist.
Oral Cancer Screenings:
Your best chance of surviving oral cancer - a disease
that affects not only lifelong smokers but also young non-smokers - is early
detection and treatment. Oral cancer screenings are a routine part of every
regular dental exam.
Salivary Diagnostics:
This is an exciting new development in the field of
preventive dentistry. While it is in its infancy, it is already possible to detect the
presence of certain diseases with a salvia test, and the technology is developing
rapidly.
X-Rays:
For around a century, dentists have been using x-rays to reveal signs of
disease not visible to the naked eye. Now, with CAT scans, they have become
three-dimensional and are an indispensable tool to diagnose tooth decay, gum
disease, bone density, bone volume and tumor.