Most cosmetic and restorative dental treatments are only recommended when they’re absolutely necessary. That means you may never need one if you keep your smile consistently healthy and free of disease. However, preventive dental care is necessary for everyone, no matter how healthy their smiles may seem at the moment. For example, attending regular checkups and cleanings at our El Paso, TX, dental office, can allow us to remove the traces of tartar that you can’t remove at home. We can also thoroughly examine your teeth and gums to determine if there’s an issue you aren’t aware of, or if you should consider additional treatment to prevent potential problems with your oral health.
Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Of all the potential chronic dental health issues, tooth decay and gum disease are the most and second-most common (respectively). That’s because all they need to develop is for enough harmful oral bacteria – the main components of plaque and tartar – to accumulate and linger on your teeth and/or gums. Skipping a day of brushing and flossing your teeth, or even missing a spot when you clean your teeth, can let plaque calcify into tartar. Since you can’t remove tartar with your toothbrush, the bacteria it contains will also remain until it’s removed during your next checkup and cleaning.
Problems with Children’s Tooth Development
Children’s dental care is an essential part of preventive family dentistry. In addition to regular checkups and cleanings, it also involves carefully monitoring and tracking the growth and development of your child’s smile. If alignment issues occur with their teeth and/or jawbones, or they develop a cavity in one of their primary (baby) teeth, then we can address it as soon as possible to help your child avoid more serious issues down the road. We can also help children learn to take excellent care of their teeth at home, which is vital to preparing them for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Issues Associated with Bite Problems
While tooth decay and gum disease are the most common chronic issues, others can also become serious threats to your smile if not addressed. For instance, if we notice signs of teeth-grinding (bruxism) or problems with your jaw joints (TMJ disorder), then we can fit you with a custom-designed oral appliance to conservatively improve your bite function. Addressing bruxism and TMJ disorder helps you prevent a myriad of symptoms and complications, including chronic headaches, trouble biting and chewing, severe tooth wear and damage, and more.
Schedule a checkup and cleaning appointment
By attending a checkup and cleaning appointment at least twice a year, you can prevent a lot of issues that you might not have even realized you were at risk for. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We also have offices in Chaparral, Canutillo, and Vinton so we can easily serve patients throughout all surrounding communities.