Preventative Dentistry

Just like any other part of the body our mouths need on-going TLC.

A consistent at-home oral hygiene and dental routine play an indispensable role in making sure teeth and gums remain healthy, whilst routine visits to see the hygienist and dentist reinforce this and allow any problems to be spotted and treated swiftly. The combination of at-home care and routine appointments is known as preventative dentistry.

Preventative dentistry at Rosewood: what is involved?

‘Preventative dentistry’ is a modern way of maintaining a healthy mouth. The primary goal is to maintain your natural teeth, so that you need less treatment over the years. The main reasons why people loose teeth are due to gum disease or tooth decay. By preventing these from occurring, there is a better chance of keeping your teeth for the rest of your life.

For all patients, we carry out a detailed extra-oral and intra-oral examination and discuss any treatment you may need. Our focus is to get your mouth healthy by giving you the right advice which in turn reduces the need for future treatment.

• As required, our dental team will provide you with a scale and polish, which will not only restore your confidence but will also help reduce the risk of gum disease.
• We will demonstrate a good way to brush your teeth and also how to use interdental aids, which together help you to maintain better plaque control on a daily basis.
• During your visit our dental team will discuss your diet and habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption, as these can increase your risk of getting tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer. We will give you tailored advice so that you can make changes, if needed, to reduce your risk level and maintain good oral health.
• Our dentists will thoroughly examine your teeth to make sure all previous dental work is in good condition. If we identify any issues, we will discuss and promptly treat these, to prevent them getting worse.
• Early cavities can be identified visually and using x-rays. Appropriate advice to care for these will be provided. This normally includes diet advice and fluoride application, together with regular monitoring at all future examinations.
• We will note any signs of tooth wear and provide the most appropriate advice and if needed, treatment to manage this. This will help to preserve the natural structure of your teeth, as you get older.
• We don’t just look at your teeth – we also look at all the soft tissues in your mouth and the surrounding extra-oral areas. By doing so, we can pick up on the early signs of oral cancer so that prompt investigation and treatment can be arranged.

Everyone benefits from preventative dentistry – whether you have all your teeth, some of your own teeth, or no teeth! Preventative dentistry is very important through all stages in life, from young children to the elderly.