We all know that prevention is better than cure. However, in order to prevent dental problems from arising, one must first know how to really care for oral hygiene effectively and comprehensively.
Why should I attend check-up visits if I do not have cavities?
Even daily, repeated brushing, flossing and rinsing of the teeth is not able to fully protect us from caries or other irregularities, e.g. of an extremely sensitive mucosa. This is why every person who cares about themselves and their health should have "their own", trusted, treating dentist who, knowing them, will be able to make a diagnosis much faster in the case of any newly arising problems.
Dental prevention in children
It is extremely important, especially, to instil in children from the earliest years how much caring for oral hygiene can affect their health, as well as their future relationships with others and their sense of self-worth. Fortunately, more and more parents already know that caries is an infectious disease, and infection can occur even through the use of the same, previously unwashed cutlery, tasting food before giving it to the child, or even kisses. However, despite growing awareness, not all parents still realise that caries – although it is one of the most widespread diseases of the oral cavity – may not be the worst dental problem that their children or they themselves will have to face. Periodontosis, increasingly frequent infections with various types of papillomas or leukoplakia are just some of the few threats which – if not recognised and treated early – can lead to the loss of teeth, very serious periodontal diseases or even the development of neoplastic changes. It is precisely for this reason that we should broaden the understanding of dental prevention to include obligatory check-up visits to an experienced dentist, not relying solely on ourselves or on information from the Internet.
Bearing in mind how much a child's first visit to the dentist can influence their later attitude to dental treatment, let us make sure that it is a pleasant and intriguing meeting for the little one. If the first visit to the dentist is precisely of a preventive nature, there is a greater chance that the child will not feel any unnecessary fear of the dentist at all in the future.
What services does dental prevention at NL Clinic cover?
Early recognition of dental problems usually allows for more effective, less invasive treatment, which is why we carry out reliable check-ups and offer a range of preventive measures aimed at eliminating potential threats in the bud. Placing yourself in the hands of dentists by vocation, you can be sure that their overriding goal is to spare you pain.
Dental prevention at NL Clinic includes treatments such as sealing (or deep sealing) of the fissures of permanent teeth, varnishing of permanent teeth with the FLUOR PROTECTOR preparation, removal of tartar, and professional cleaning of the teeth with sandblasting.
What do preventive-hygienic dental treatments give, and how do they differ from each other?
Sealing of the fissures of permanent teeth
This is a dental procedure involving the sealing of the depressions and fissures on the chewing surface of the tooth. The filling is done using a fissure sealant – a special light-cured substance. Only healthy molars and premolars can be sealed. The procedure strengthens the protection of the enamel against the attack of cariogenic bacteria and acids, and it is recommended to carry it out as soon as possible after eruption.
Varnishing of permanent teeth with the Fluor Protector preparation
This is a preventive fluoridation procedure involving rubbing fluoride varnishes into the teeth, which form an effective protective layer for the enamel on the surface of the tooth. The concentration of fluoride in such preparations (from 0.1 to 6%) is much higher than in commonly available toothpastes or liquids. Varnishing with the Fluor Protector preparation just twice a year reduces caries by even up to 75%.
Tooth sandblasting
This is a procedure aimed at mechanically getting rid of impurities from the surface of the teeth using a so-called sandblaster and specialist chemical agents. It consists of removing certain discolourations, deposits and small tartar using a stream of water containing a sandblasting agent. For the patient's comfort, a suction device is used during the procedure, which continuously suctions the sand out of the oral cavity. After the procedure the surface of the tooth becomes smooth and whiter. In the case of larger tartar deposits, the sandblasting procedure often goes hand in hand with scaling.
Scaling
Like sandblasting, this is also a method of removing tartar, but recommended in the case of significantly harder and larger deposits of it. It is done using a so-called ultrasonic scaler which, by means of the very high frequency of ultrasound, causes the tartar to fall off. Thanks to this preventive procedure we will prevent such consequences of tartar as the lowering and exposure of the tooth necks, atrophy of the alveolar bone, loosening of the teeth or, finally, periodontosis. After scaling, a varnishing procedure is often carried out in order to eliminate tooth sensitivity and strengthen the cleaned surfaces.
Oral-hygiene instruction
During the visit – most often when performing the hygienisation package – the dental hygienist educates the patient in the scope of:
- correct techniques for cleaning the oral cavity,
- using the tools – a sonic or electric toothbrush, dental floss, interdental brushes, an irrigator,
- they also help to select the right toothbrush, rinsing liquid, etc.,
- they help to eliminate the patient's incorrect habits.
Before applying any of the mentioned methods of dental prevention, our doctors conduct a thorough interview in order to detect any contraindications. Some procedures cannot be recommended due to the condition of the teeth, having a cardiac pacemaker or pregnancy.
Although the importance of dental prevention for health is enormous, it is often undertaken too late or does not turn out to be sufficient to protect against caries or other conditions. In such cases we undertake conservative treatment.