Preventive Dentistry
Making a Difference — One Smile At A Time
Visit the dentist who brings heart to modern dental care.
Preventive Dental Care for the Whole Family
Preventive dental care is essential for the whole family because it prevents tooth decay, gum disease, and potentially painful and costly dental procedures. We want to be your partner in dental health at Cox Family Dentistry. Establishing a lasting relationship with Dr. Cox and our team will help you and your children keep your beautiful smiles for decades.
What is Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dentistry is an umbrella term for services provided by your dentist to reduce the likelihood of developing oral health issues that can be more expensive to treat and uncomfortable to experience. Everyone benefits from preventive dentistry, but children, in particular, benefit from preventive pediatric dentistry because it allows their newly developing adult teeth to come in strong and healthy.
Preventive Dentistry Benefits
Preventive dental services have several benefits, including:
- Promotes healthy habits such as brushing, flossing, and regular dental exams and cleanings.
- Help prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and catch signs of oral health problems early when it’s easier and cheaper to treat.
- Maintaining good oral health benefits your overall health: Preventive dental care can also help reduce your risk of other health problems linked to poor oral health, such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
Preventive Dental Care at Home
Here are a few things you can do to promote your oral health at home:
- Brush your teeth twice daily using a soft-bristled brush and fluoridated toothpaste. However, brushing can’t clean all the nooks and crannies between your teeth, so be sure to floss at least once a day to clean the whole surface of your teeth.
- Smoking is bad for your oral health. It affects your ability to heal, leads to yellowing of the teeth and tongue, and can give breath a bad odor.
- Don’t eat hard foods or candies as they can break your teeth or restorations such as fillings.
- Limit sugary and acid foods and drinks that will wear down your teeth’s enamel.
Preventive Dental Care Services
- Regular Oral Exams: Oral exams are a comprehensive evaluation of your oral health. Dr. Cox will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums for signs of cavities, gum disease, loss of enamel, and other oral health issues. We’ll also check your mouth, tongue, throat, face, and neck for any abnormalities and signs of oral cancer. Ideally, you and your family should visit your dentist at least every six months for dental exams.
- Teeth Cleanings: Professional teeth cleanings are essential because they remove hardened plaque from your teeth, stains, and tartar that regular brushing and flossing cannot remove. Plaque and tartar buildup can only be removed with specialized dental tools. During your appointment, our hygienist will use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar around your gum line and between your teeth. After your teeth are completely tartar-free, the hygienist will brush them with a high-powered electric brush and gritty toothpaste to deep clean and remove any tartar left behind. We’ll then floss your teeth, getting deep between your teeth to remove any excess plaque or toothpaste from earlier in the cleaning process. We’ll then rinse out your mouth to remove any lingering debris. We recommend coming in to have your teeth cleaned at least once a year.
- Routine X-Rays: Dental X-rays help us visualize oral health issues that cannot be seen with a simple oral exam, such as small areas of decay between teeth. X-rays can help identify decay occurring beneath an existing filling, reveal bone loss that accompanies gum disease, reveal changes in the bone or the root canal due to infection, or reveal an abscess. In children, x-rays allow us to watch for decay, check for developmental abnormalities, and determine if there’s enough space in the mouth to fit all incoming teeth. X-rays are safe for children and adults, so there’s no need to worry.
Preventive Dental Care Cost
Dental insurance providers prioritize preventive dental care because of its important role in oral health. Therefore, preventative dental services are often covered at 100% with minimal or no deductibles or co-pays.
Schedule Your Appointment Today!
Being proactive in taking care of your teeth and coming in for regular check-ups reduces the chances of you or your family needing restorative services now or later in life. If you or your family needs preventive dental care in Bowling Green, KY, don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cox today.