Decay Prevention What is preventive dentistry? Preventive dentistry is the modern way of reducing the amount of dental treatment necessary to maintain a healthy mouth. It helps you to keep your teeth. The two major causes of tooth loss are decay and gum disease. The better we prevent or deal with these two problems, the more chance you have of keeping your teeth for life. The joint efforts of the dentist, the hygienist and the patient, help to prevent the need for treatment, and so avoid the traditional pattern of fillings and extractions. A course of treatment may be recommended to get your mouth in healthy condition, and a maintenance plan will be worked out to help you keep it that way. Is prevention possible? Yes. With modern dentistry and constant new developments, it is possible to prevent or considerably reduce dental disease.   What is involved?   As your dental health team, we are pleased to give you this brochure, which describes your oral hygiene appointment in detail.You see, during this visit, you receive much more than just cleaning: Diagnostic services of your dental hygiene visit may include: Examination of your teeth to detect decay Necessary cavity detecting X-rays Evaluation and assessment of your periodontal (gum) tissue Checking your biting, chewing and swallowing patterns Reviewing and updating your medical history Recording any changes in your prescribed medications and physical condition Treatment planning Evaluating possible cosmetic enhancements of your smile 2.  Preventive services of your oral hygiene visit may include:  Oral cancer examination and screening Blood pressure check Application of fluoride Application of pit and fissure sealant Cleaning and scaling of teeth to remove all plaque and calculus (tartar) Removal of surface stains from the teeth Referral to specialists for specific treatment Polishing your gold, silver or composite resin fillings or crowns 3. Educational services of your oral hygiene visit may include: Tooth brushing and flossing instruction Nutrition counseling Case presentation of prescribed dental treatment Recommendation of future treatment (orthodontics