Preventive Care

Preventive dental care is the cornerstone of a healthy smile, and investing a little time and energy into routine dental exams and cleanings can greatly reduce your risk of more serious problems requiring complex interventions for treatment. You should be seeing your dentist at least twice each year for preventive dental care, and these appointments can be completed in about an hour or less in most cases.

In combination with a thorough home oral hygiene routine, the exams and cleanings that you receive at these appointments go a long way to keep your smile as healthy as possible. A dental hygienist can reach the parts of your smile that’s tough for you to get to using just a toothbrush and floss. As such, plaque and tartar can still accumulate on your teeth, but periodic professional cleanings will help to eliminate them and limit their ability to harm your teeth and gums. Your dental hygienist can also give you tips and guidance for your home oral hygiene techniques so that you are getting the maximum benefit of your routine.

Additionally, when a dentist examines your teeth and gums every six months, it’s much more likely that any oral diseases, like tooth decay or periodontal disease, will be identified in their earliest stages. A small cavity or mild gingivitis is much easier to treat than a large area of decay or advanced periodontitis. It could make the difference between getting a small filling vs. a dental crown, or a deep cleaning and gum surgery.

In some ways, preventive dental care can even by a life-saving endeavor. One of the services you will receive at your checkup is an oral cancer screening. Oral cancer actually has a good prognosis if it is diagnosed and treated before it has the opportunity to spread to nearby tissue.

Preventive care may also include more specific interventions, such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments, which help to protect and strengthen your teeth. Your dentist may also recommend a custom-designed athletic mouthguard if you participate in sports. This is yet another way to protect your smile.

Postponing preventive care can ultimately result in undiagnosed oral diseases that may devastate your smile’s appearance and functioning. Has it been more than six months since your last dental visit? Call us soon to schedule a checkup and get back on track with your preventive care.

Preventive Dentistry Videos

Understanding Tooth Wear

Flouride Treatments

Equilibration

Traditional Orthodontics

Debridement

Manual vs. Electric Toothbrush

Proper Flossing Technique

Gingivitis

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

FAQ’s

What is considered preventive dental care?

Preventive dental care encompasses a number of services, including dental exams, professional dental cleanings, oral hygiene counseling, annual digital x-rays, oral cancer screenings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants and custom-designed athletic mouthguards.

Preventive dental care may also address temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which cause discomfort and other troublesome symptoms for patients. Some preventive care, like cleanings and exams, are recommended on a regular basis, while other services are provided on an as-needed basis. The ultimate goal of preventive care is to ensure that the patient enjoys optimal oral health and identify any oral diseases in the earliest stages before they are likely to cause much long-term damage.

Why should I go to the dentist regularly?

When your dentist examines your teeth at regular intervals, any changes or concerning symptoms can be caught earlier in the disease process. For example, if you see your dentist twice a year, a cavity is unlikely to affect a large portion of the tooth. However, if you delay going to the dentist, more extensive tooth decay can compromise the tooth’s stability and require a large restoration, like a dental crown. Furthermore, your dentist will be looking for issues like sores, bumps and red or white patches that could be symptoms of oral cancer, which responds well to treatment when it is localized.

How often should I have a cleaning?

Patients should have their teeth cleaned at least every six months. Even if you are diligent about your home oral hygiene regimen, plaque and tartar can still accumulate on your teeth and along the gumline, especially in the areas of your smile that you have difficulty reaching on your own. A dental hygienist can clean these areas more easily than you can, in addition to using professional instruments, which are the only tools that can effectively remove calculus (tartar) from the teeth.

How often should I brush and floss?

You should be brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing daily. It’s also important to brush for two minutes each time to make sure that you are thoroughly cleaning all surfaces of your teeth. You also want to pay attention to your technique, because if you’re not brushing and flossing properly, you may not be getting as much of a benefit as you think. If you need additional instruction on this aspect of your oral hygiene, feel free to speak with one of our dental hygienists and ask any questions that you may have. Be certain to use an ADA-approved toothbrush that is in good condition, along with an ADA-approved toothpaste, as well.

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Meet our Doctors

Dr. Michael DeSanti, Jr.

Dr. Michael DeSanti, Jr. was raised in the Capital District. He attended the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2000. He then moved to Boston where he completed his post-doctoral program at Harvard University. Since 2001, Dr. DeSanti has been in private practice at his current location.

Dr. Amy Linden

Dr. Amy Linden was raised in Rome, NY. She received her dental degree from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine where she graduated Cum Laude. She completed her post-doctoral Advance Education certificate at the Western New York Veterans Hospital. Dr. Linden has been practicing at DeSanti & Linden Dentistry since 2014.

Featured Dental Services in Albany, New York

Restorative Care

Cosmetic Dentistry

Preventive Care

Schedule your next dental appointment with us!

We serve patients of all ages. Request an appointment for every member of your family today!

Schedule your next dental appointment with us!

We serve patients of all ages. Request an appointment for every member of your family today!