What is Preventative Dentistry and Why is It So Important?
Dental care isn't just for cavities. Read this article to learn about the benefits of preventative dentistry and why is it is so important for overall health.
Americans have a love-hate relationship with the dentist.
On one hand, 85% of people in the US believe that oral health is a crucial component of their overall well-being. According to the same source, though, just 58% of us see the dentist as often as we’d like to. Oh, and a mere 25% are extremely satisfied with the state of teeth, gums, and mouth.
If you’ve been hoping to get better at caring for your teeth, then the practice of preventative dentistry could hold all the answers. A pillar of dental hygiene, you can use it to avoid dental problems and facilitate your overall oral health.
Want to find out more about it and how you stand to gain? Well, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to learn all about preventative dental care and its many advantages.
What Is Preventative Dentistry?
At its most basic, preventative dentistry is the all-important process of looking after your oral health. It encapsulates everything and anything that one should do in this ongoing endeavor. For example:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day? That’s preventative dentistry.
- Flossing your teeth every night? That’s preventative dentistry too.
- Eating a balanced diet that’s good for your teeth, gums, and overall well-being? Yep, preventive dentistry!
How about attending regular check-ups with the dentist? You bet that’s preventative dentistry.
In other words, it’s the lifelong practice of tending to your teeth! From childhood through to adulthood, and all the way to old age, you’re taking steps to avoid gum disease, escape cavities, and steer clear of anything dentally untoward. That’s preventative dentistry in a nutshell.
Why Is Preventative Dentistry Important?
Prevention’s always better than cure, right? That’s why preventative dentistry is the real secret to a happier, healthier set of teeth and gums.
By maintaining high standards of oral health, you can limit the likelihood of suffering the wide-array of painful (and often expensive) problems that are sure to arise otherwise. The benefits don’t stop there, though! Here’s a selection of the primary advantages associated with preventative dentistry:
1. You’ll Avoid Debilitating Ailments
As we just mentioned, preventative dentistry makes debilitating dental issues less likely. Indeed, the small investment of the time it takes to clean and floss your teeth could prevent the discomfort of cavities, abscesses, and other unwelcome oral problems. However, it’s also worth noting that it can save your life!
Few people realize how some serious dental problems (such as gingivitis and decay) can be life-threatening when they’re left untreated. Fail to look after your teeth or see the dentist, then, and you could suffer from significant health complications.
2. You’ll Identify Issues Early
Preventative dentistry makes dental problems much less likely, but there are never any guarantees. No matter how diligent you try to be, these issues can and will develop over time. Heck, even dentists suffer from the occasional cavity or a minor build-up of decay!
The good news is that preventative measures help identify such concerns early on. As a result, you limit the treatment that’s required. You save oodles of time, money, and unnecessary discomfort in the process.
3. You’ll Learn About Oral Hygiene
Dentists aren’t just there to clean peoples’ teeth and treat any issues that arise. As experts in oral hygiene, they’re well-placed to educate their clients too. Visit the dentist, then, and they’ll explain how to take better care of your teeth and gums at home.
More importantly, their advice isn’t generic in nature. They examine your mouth and explain what you need to do to look after your teeth. From avoiding certain foods to using a different toothbrush, there could be all sorts of useful tactics you can use in your oral hygiene routine.
4. You’ll Save Money
Seeing the dentist as part of your preventative dentistry efforts isn’t always cheap. However, it’s a definite investment that’s likely to pay for itself down the line. Why?
Because biannual check-ups are a bargain compared to the cost of more serious dental procedures. Yet that’s exactly what you might need if you fail to visit the dentist (and allow your oral hygiene to lapse in the meantime). Fillings, crowns, and root canals can cost thousands of dollars that you could have saved through preventative dentistry.
5. You’ll Feel More Confident
People with dental problems often experience trouble with their self-esteem as well. They feel self-conscious about their appearance and anxious about the perception of others. In the worst-cases, they might even find it difficult to leave the house and engage in an active social life.
Preventative dentistry should help you avoid that kind of fate. Seeing the dentist and looking after your teeth will ensure they continue to look amazing. You’ll have a gleaming set of pearly whites to show off to your friends and family.
6. You’ll Enjoy Fewer Dental Visits
As we’ve seen, going to the dentist on a regular basis is super important. But, let’s face it, most of us prefer to spend our time in other ways! We’d rather be out with friends, playing with the kids, or relaxing on our days off work.
That’s where preventative dentistry comes in. It’s by far the best way to stay out of the dentist's chair. Having taken action to keep your teeth in top condition, there’ll be less need to see the dentist for help.
Time to See the Dentist
The vast majority of Americans recognize the importance of looking after their teeth and gums. However, there remains real room for improvement when it comes to doing it! Know the struggle?
Well, preventative dentistry can make all the difference! We hope the information in this post has highlighted why that’s the case. Stick to the principles of preventive dentistry and your oral health should start to improve in no time.
Are you looking for dental care in Tarrytown? We’d love to help.
Click here to book your appointment with a dentist in Tarrytown today.
Dr. Rohit Z Patel
D.D.S
After graduating at the top of his class, Dr. Patel continued his postgraduate studies in endodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York. He was appointed to assistant clinical professor of dentistry at Columbia University and later moved on to teach at the Montefiore Medical Center’s Department of Dentistry. Westchester Magazine recognized Dr. Patel as a “Top Dentist for 2012.”
Dr. Yung Kim
D.D.S
Dr. Yung Kim is a double board certified Periodontist and board certified Prosthodontist, educated to treat many extremely complex disorders involving gum disease, tooth decay, and oral pathology. His focus is on full-mouth, complex, surgical, and reconstructive dentistry. He has extensive knowledge of implant dentistry and advanced surgical procedures, specializing in teeth in a day and All-on-Four implants. He is also Invisalign certified and experienced with CAD/CAM restorations and dentures.
Dr. Brendan Gallagher
D.D.S
Dr. Brendan Gallagher is dedicated to providing safe, compassionate, and reliable surgical care while keeping communication clear and timely with referring offices. He values building strong partnerships with colleagues to ensure the very best care for patients. Outside of practice, Dr. Gallagher enjoys mentoring upcoming dentists through social media and podcasting. He also enjoys running, trying new craft beers and spending time with friends and family. You can find Dr. Gallagher at our Brewster, Tarrytown and Mount Vernon locations.
Dr. Santvana Vyas
D.D.S
Dr Vyas attended NYU College of Dentistry and earned DDS in 2016 at the top of her class. She was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), the national dental honor society and earned Outstanding Achievement Award in study of Prosthodontics.
Dr Vyas is an active member of American College of Prosthodontics (ACP) and American Dental Association (ADA). She is appointed as a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU College of Dentistry. She is married and is blessed with two sons.
Dr. Gianna DeMase
D.D.S
Dr. DeMase received her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University where she double-majored in Biology and Spanish. She then earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University College of Dentistry where she graduated with honors in periodontics. After dental school, Dr. DeMase completed a General Practice Residency at Jacobi Medical Center, a level one trauma hospital. Here, she participated in community outreach in the women’s health clinic and taught medical students how to do oral exams. She also worked with special needs patients in Jacobi’s Rose F. Kennedy Center. Dr. DeMase remains committed to being active in the community.
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Dr. DeMase has experience in cavity restoration, endodontics, oral surgery, oral pathology, and prosthodontics including implant restorations.
She highly values patient education and always ensures your comfort and understanding of the treatment. She strongly believes in patient centered care and therefore tailors each treatment plan to you and your needs. As a member of the American Dental Association, Dr. DeMase is always aware of the latest studies and developments in the dental field and strives to apply them to her practice. In her spare time, she can usually be found with a book in her hands.
