Preventative Dental Care in De Pere, WI
Even when treated successfully, oral health issues can be debilitating for many patients due to cost, loss of time, and discomfort. For these reasons and many others, Fox View Dental recommends preventative dental care as the first line of defense against oral health issues. Preventative dentist Dr. Chad Yenchesky offers preventative dentistry services to help stop oral disease and oral health issues from developing.
What is Preventative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry refers to the practices you and your De Pere dentist take to prevent oral complications from developing. Preventative dental services are the foundation of good oral health, and a proactive approach to help you maintain your healthy smile and avoid extensive dental problems.
Successful preventative dentistry plans consist of two main components: at-home care and in-office care. To give your smile the best chance at thriving, you need to combine excellent individual oral hygiene with biannual trips to your dentist in De Pere, WI.
Benefits of Preventative Dentistry
Preventative dentistry is a priority at Fox View Dental, because of the many benefits including:
- Helps prevent the need for additional dental appointments
- Prevents the need for more costly & invasive procedures
- Simple for both you and your dentist to practice
- Improved oral and overall health
- A more consistently healthy and beautiful smile
Our Preventative Dentistry Services
Education About At-Home Dental Hygiene
There’s a lot you can do on your own to keep your smile healthy and most of the suggestions are incredibly simple. The most vital things you can do each day to protect your teeth are brushing and flossing. Regular brushing and flossing is an easy routine that pays enormous dividends that are essential if you’d like your pearly whites to last a lifetime. To care for your smile at home, your De Pere preventative dentist recommends the following:
- Avoid sodas and sugary drinks
- Rinse at least once a day with an antibacterial mouthwash
- Avoid all tobacco products
- Limit your intake of sweets and starchy treats
- Drink water with and between meals
- Wear orthodontic retainers as prescribed to keep your teeth aligned and easy to clean
- Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
Regular Dental Exams
Routine dental visits help protect your entire oral structure including your teeth, gums, and jaw from oral health issues by allowing Dr. Yenchesky to closely monitor the condition of your dental health over a consistent time frame. During a dental exam, our hygienist will use a small dental mirror to look at your teeth and gums, evaluating your oral health for signs of gum disease or other problems. Trips to Dr. Yenchesky help protect you against long-term problems like:
- Oral cancer
- Gum disease
- Tooth loss
- Dental staining
- Undiagnosed cavities and abscesses
Professional Dental Cleanings
Professional dental cleanings are part of every routine dental exam. While daily brushing and flossing are necessary for the success of your oral health, biannual professional cleanings can reach plaque and tartar that a toothbrush and floss normally can’t.
Using special dental tools designed for this purpose, the hygienist will gently scrape away plaque and tartar that have built up around the gum line. Tartar tends to build up in certain areas—particularly behind the front bottom teeth—so the hygienist might have to do additional cleaning. Afterward, they’ll gently polish your teeth to give you a smooth, sparkling smile.
Oral Cancer Screenings
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be over 54,000 new cases of oral cancer in the U.S. in 2022. Fortunately, early detection dramatically increases the five-year relative survival rate. During every routine dental exam, Dr. Yenchesky will provide an oral cancer screening to check for signs of possible cancerous tissues. Methods your De Pere preventative dentist may use for oral cancer detection include:
- The visual/ tactile exam
- Biopsies
- Special dye that’s used in combination with light
Gum Disease Prevention
If you’ve ever noticed that your gums bleed when you brush or floss or that they appear darker than they should, there’s a chance you have periodontal disease. Periodontal disease or gum disease is an infection of your gum tissue. Common symptoms of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Tender or swollen gums
- Dark red gums
- Loose or shifting teeth
During the earliest stage of gum disease (gingivitis) the infection is very easy to miss and many people don’t even notice any changes, but the disease gets worse as it progresses. Dr. Yenchesky and the rest of our dental team will work with you to help prevent infection from developing and spreading in the first place.
Protect Your Smile with Preventative Dental Care
At Fox View Dental, preventative dental care helps patients just like you keep their smiles healthy and strong throughout their entire lives. Dr. Yenchesky offers preventative dentistry services to patients from De Pere and surrounding areas such as Allouez, Ashwaubenon, and Howard, WI.
To learn more about the benefits of preventative dentistry, contact our De Pere dental office by dialing (920) 336-4201. You can also fill out our contact form, and one of our friendly team members will get back to you shortly.
