Preventive Care

Preventive dentistry encompasses all procedures and measures that are implemented to prevent the occurrence of tooth and gum diseases. The basic idea is to discover and solve problems in the early stage – before more serious damage, pain, or the need for invasive procedures occur.

Why Is Prevention Important?

Many oral and dental diseases develop without symptoms in the initial phase. When discovered late, treatment can be more complex, expensive, and demanding for the patient. Preventive dentistry enables the preservation of natural teeth and reduces the need for fillings, root canal treatments, or tooth extractions.

What Preventive Dentistry Includes

Regular Oral Hygiene at Home

Regular and proper oral hygiene maintenance at home (with a toothbrush, paste, and dental floss) is the foundation in preventing various problems such as caries, gum disease, bad breath, and tooth loss.

Dental Examination

Dental examination is the basic and most important diagnostic procedure in dentistry. The goal of the examination is to assess the condition of teeth, gums, and the entire oral cavity, so that changes that could threaten oral health can be detected in time. It is recommended once every six months, even when there is no pain or discomfort. In our clinic, along with the examination and assessment of the condition of teeth, gums, and the entire oral cavity, X-ray imaging (orthopan) of teeth and jaws is also performed for a more detailed insight into the overall condition of teeth, periodontium, and jaws. Based on the analysis, the patient receives all information about the health status of the oral cavity in written form, as well as a further therapy plan if needed. If everything is fine, the next examination is scheduled for six months – within regular prevention.

Removal of Soft Deposits and Education on Proper Oral Hygiene

Soft deposits, also known as dental plaque, represent a colorless or whitish-yellow layer that forms on the tooth surface immediately after eating, especially if teeth are not properly cleaned. They consist of food residues, bacteria, and their products. Untreated soft deposits can cause serious problems such as caries, gum inflammation, and periodontal disease. Regular visits to the dentist for control and, if necessary, removal of soft deposits and advice on proper oral hygiene as well as proper nutrition is an irreplaceable part of preventive care.

Ultrasonic Removal of Dental Calculus

If soft deposits are not removed by regular brushing, over time they become mineralized under the influence of saliva and form dental calculus (hard deposits), which can no longer be removed with a regular toothbrush, but only by professional cleaning at the dentist. Unremoved calculus can lead to serious problems such as gum inflammation, periodontal disease, halitosis (bad breath), and can impair aesthetics.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

Professional teeth cleaning is a dental procedure that removes dental plaque, calculus, and surface stains that cannot be removed by regular brushing at home. Also, professional cleaning in our clinic includes cleaning the spaces between teeth as part of the gum sulcus. This procedure is an important part of preventive dentistry because it helps preserve gum health and prevent the development of caries and periodontal disease.

Fissure Sealing

Protective measure in children and adolescents – application of material on the chewing surfaces of molars (as very important teeth for forming proper bite and jaw and facial development) to prevent the development of caries in tooth depressions.

Making Protective Splints (Most Often for Bruxism)

Bruxism is a condition that involves unconscious clenching or grinding of teeth, most often during sleep, but sometimes also during the day. Chronic bruxism can cause serious consequences for teeth and jaws such as tooth wear so teeth become sensitive to cold, heat, and sweets, temporomandibular joint problems, tension and pain in facial and neck muscles, as well as headaches. Protective tooth splints, also known as splints or night guards, are transparent, individually made plastic overlays worn during the night (or day, depending on need) and which: prevent direct contact between upper and lower teeth, reduce pressure and friction that damages teeth, relieve stress on temporomandibular joints and muscles, help relax the jaw and prevent tension.

Preventive dentistry also includes all measures implemented to preserve the health of the tooth supporting apparatus (periodontium) – gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar ridge of the jawbone. In this sense, periodontology is an inseparable part of prevention, as it deals with these structures.

More about this in the services Periodontology.