Preventative Dentistry

At Delatorre Dentistry, we know the importance of combining professional cleanings with at-home, daily oral hygiene practices. By providing our patients with biannual cleanings and checkups, we can detect developing conditions and begin treatment right away. This increases the likelihood that our patients will be able to keep their natural teeth, eliminating the need for more expensive dental procedures, like dentures or implants.

At-Home Oral Hygiene

The ADA recommends brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Brushing and flossing effectively removes dental plaque, which is a film that forms on the teeth and can cause tooth decay. When plaque remains on the teeth, it causes the formation of tartar. Dental tartar is a sticky, hard substance. This substance actually consists of acid-producing bacteria that can actually dissolve the hard, outer surface of the teeth (enamel), leading to the formation of cavities and even gum disease.

At Delatorre Dentistry, we encourage our patients to brush for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste and floss at least twice a day because these are the two most important at-home cavity prevention techniques there are.

Study Emphasizes the Importance of Preventative Dental Care

A Preventative Dental Care Study that was conducted by the insurance company Delta Dental sheds light on the risks associated with neglecting to follow the recommendations set forth by the American Dental Association (ADA).

This study finds that many of the individuals who are at a higher risk for periodontal disease and/or cavities are not taking advantage of their preventative dental care benefits. According to this study, more than 25 percent of children (18 years and under) are at an increased risk of tooth decay.

Of these children:

• Nearly 90 percent of the children aged 10 to 14 years did not have sealants applied to their permanent molars which, according to the ADA, can reduce the risk of cavities by 80 percent.
• Approximately 70 percent of those aged 6 to 9 years did not get the sealants on their first set of molars.
• More than 65 percent of these children did not receive their biannual fluoride treatments.
• Nearly 2 million of the insurance company’s adult enrollees were at an increased risk for gum disease and nearly 50 percent of these enrollees disregarded the ADA’s recommendation for biannual dental cleanings.

Methods of Preventative Dentistry

Sealants

A sealant is a thin, protective coating material applied to the chewing surface of your back teeth. Once your teeth are covered, food and plaque cannot get in. They can keep cavities from forming and may even stop the early stages of decay from becoming a cavity. Sealants can last several years and can be reapplied if needed.

Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. Since sealants only protect the chewing surfaces of the teeth, it is important to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss to prevent cavities in between your teeth. During your regular dental visits, Dr. Delatorre can check the sealants and reapply them if needed.

PRR

A PRR stands for a Preventative Resin Restoration. It is shallow filling for a cavity at its beginning stages. It repairs the forming cavity and protects the tooth from further decay. A PRR is used when it is too late for a sealant, but a regular filling is not needed yet. A major advantage of a PRR is that because the cavity is not fully formed yet, you don’t have to get anesthesia and it is less expensive than a conventional dental filling. Dr. Delatorre will check your PRR at every dental visit to make sure its edges are still sealed.

If you reside near Tampa, Fla., instead of avoiding the dentist, let Dr. Alina de la Torre and her staff perform your dental procedures while you are comfortably sedated. To learn more, contact Delatorre Dentistry at 813.792.9400 today.