Warm Fuzzies - Dental Hygiene and Preventative Care

Warm Fuzzies: You get to help people. Every day you can offer real solutions and see the results of your work right before your eyes.

Practice costs are high, especially if you want to own your own practice. And many dentists graduate with significant student debt. This can limit financial flexibility early on in the career.

Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is the practice of regularly brushing and flossing your teeth and visiting a dentist for dental x-rays, exams and cleanings. It is one of the best ways to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health problems. Good oral hygiene can also reduce your risk of heart disease and other systemic diseases.

The mouth is full of germs, but most of them are harmless because the body’s natural defenses and regular brushing and flossing keep them under control. But if germs are allowed to accumulate, they can lead to infections such as tooth decay and gum disease. These infections can be spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or can cause illness such as pneumonia, bronchitis and heart disease.

A major goal of modern dentistry is to help patients keep their teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. A conscientious program of daily brushing and flossing combined with regular visits to the dentist and a balanced diet can significantly reduce the risk of many dental problems, including cavities, periodontitis (gum disease) and bad breath.

Studies have shown that a person’s level of oral hygiene has a direct relationship to their general well-being. This is because the bacteria and plaque that are released by poor oral hygiene can clog the arteries that supply oxygen to the brain, thereby raising the risk of stroke and heart disease. Additionally, inflammation of the gums can also impede blood flow to the brain and increase the risk of dementia.

As such, it is critical for everyone to practice good oral hygiene by brushing their teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and using an interdental cleaner or mouthwash once a day. It is also important to visit the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and exam. A dentist can provide advice on how to improve your oral hygiene routine and make recommendations for specific products that may be beneficial to you.

Preventative Care

Preventative care is something we hear about a lot at the doctor’s office, on television advertisements, and when searching for insurance. However, many people do not understand what preventative care actually entails. This care is routine health services like screenings, checkups, and patient counseling that help to prevent disease or other health problems. It’s much less invasive and expensive than the care someone needs when they are sick. It’s also better for the patient, the provider, and the healthcare system overall.

The main advantage of preventative care is that it helps to catch things before they become a problem. This means that your provider can monitor things like blood pressure and cholesterol, which are often symptomatic of other illnesses. They can then work with you to get them under control before they cause serious problems.

Typically, health and dental insurance cover most preventative care. However, it’s best to always check with your provider and your insurance company to find out what specific preventive services are covered by each one. It’s important to know what is covered so you don’t get charged for a service that could have been prevented. This is why it is important to keep all of your paperwork and records.

Restorative Care

When a tooth is damaged, a restorative procedure fixes it to restore function and improve the appearance of a smile. This includes fixing cavities, repairing cracked or chipped teeth, and replacing missing teeth. It also includes preventing and treating diseases associated with poor oral health, such as gum disease and osteoporosis. General dentists, sometimes called family dentists, perform most restorative procedures.

A dental filling repairs small cavities, which are caused by bacteria that eat away at your tooth enamel. During this procedure, the dentist removes the decayed portion of your tooth and fills in the hole with a tooth-colored composite material. This restores your tooth's function and reduces the risk of further damage.

Dentists use crowns to repair large cavities and broken teeth. They're sometimes referred to as caps because they fit over the entire damaged tooth, covering it entirely. To place a crown, the dentist must alter your natural tooth by shaving it down. If you have a cavity that's too big for a dental filling but not quite big enough for a crown, your dentist might recommend inlays or onlays. Inlays and onlays are custom restorations that fit into your natural tooth structure like puzzle pieces.

Personal support workers (PSWs) with restorative care training work with clients on a 24 hour basis, providing nursing services in their homes or long term care facilities. They offer emotional and physical support to help clients adjust to their circumstances. They encourage individuals to participate in as many activities and programs as possible, so they feel supported and have a sense of purpose. They also promote movement and exercise, as this prevents muscle atrophy and helps people maintain their independence.

Emergency Care

Some dental problems are considered emergencies and require immediate attention, especially if the patient is in extreme pain. Depending on the severity, some issues can be addressed at home while others should be treated as soon as possible at an emergency dental clinic.

Toothaches occur when there is an inflammation of the central portion of a tooth called the pulp. The pulp contains nerve endings that are sensitive and respond to the presence of food particles, plaque and tartar. A toothache is a clear indication of the need to visit a dentist for a dental cleaning and a cavity filling. If left untreated a toothache may become more severe and lead to an infection, which requires a root canal procedure to treat the affected tooth.

A traumatic injury to the mouth is also considered an emergency and needs to be treated right away. Traumatic injuries include broken teeth, lost crowns or bridges and dental abscesses. It is important to seek treatment at an emergency dental clinic to avoid further deterioration and complications from the injury.

An experienced dentist will be able to help determine if an issue is a dental emergency and what should be done to treat it. If the issue is not a dental emergency, then the dentist can prescribe pain relievers or antibiotics and schedule an appointment for further treatment.

If you experience a dental emergency, contact dntl bar today. We have locations throughout Manhattan and provide same-day service for many dental concerns. Our team of in-house dentists, dental specialists and hygienists can address a range of dental concerns from minor sensitivity to a painful root canal. We look forward to helping you get back on the road to a healthy smile.

If you are experiencing a dental emergency and it is after hours or on the weekend, please call your general dentist first. They may have an on-call dentist or a substitute recommendation. If the emergency is life-threatening, then contact 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.

Get a Quote

information