Preventative DentistryPreventative Dentistry

Preventive dentistry is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of practices and techniques that aim to lessen your chances of developing complications with your smile.

Teeth are tenacious and resistant to many things, but a certain degree of damage and wear can have irrevocable consequences which is why a preventative approach is so important.

Preventative dentistry – what does it entail?

Preventative dentistry can be anything from having a filling to protect a tooth from further decay, to attending regular hygienist appointments. Every patient is different, so one patient’s preventative plan will be different to another’s. Your hygienist and dentist, here at Westbridge Dental Practice, will both care for your gums and teeth respectively, and take a tailored approach to care for your smile.

Why is preventative dentistry so important?

• An investment into your smile: the clue is in the name, ‘preventative’. Regularly attending check-ups to address minor problems will help prevent them from developing into more complex problems with the need for serious intervention in the future.
• Keep your smile looking great: caring for your smile throughout your life is the most effective way to keep it looking fantastic.
• Address problems you may not see at home: a healthy, at-home, preventative routine is obviously a great habit to adopt. However, turning up to your routine hygienist and dentist appointments is just as important, as there may be things you can’t spot at home but that a dental professional can – this could be anything from a cavity or inflamed gums to possible symptoms of mouth cancer or a damaged filling.