What Do You Know About Preventive Dentistry?

What do you know about preventive dentistry? This area of dentistry involves treatments designed to avoid the onset of oral health concerns. After all, the best way to maintain a healthy smile is to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. Even if you take good care of your teeth, you still need preventive care.

Try Our Preventive Dentistry Quiz

1. True or False: If you brush and floss you don’t need a cleaning.
2. True or False: The doctor should examine your smile twice a year.
3. True or False: Lack of sleep isn’t a big deal.
4. True or False: We can treat TMJ issues with an oral appliance.

Answer Key

1. False. Brushing and flossing can remove plaque and foods caught between your teeth. However, this cannot remove hardened plaque, also known as tartar. Without removal, the tartar buildup can weaken tooth enamel and inflame the gums, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease developing. You should have a professional cleaning at least twice a year.
2. True. We suggest seeing the dentist once every six months for a checkup. During the visit, the doctor will carefully examine the teeth and gums. Using digital x-rays, he can look below the gums to make a more accurate diagnosis. We may also perform a dental cleaning during this visit as well.
3. False. If you are losing sleep as a result of as disorder, such as sleep apnea, you need treatment to avoid serious complications, such as a higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. We can treat sleep apnea and help you obtain the rest you need to function properly.
4. True. Using an oral appliance we can reposition the jaw, correcting the causes of jaw joint strain and easing the symptoms of TMJ disorder.

ABOUT YOUR ASTORIA, NY, DENTIST:

Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, a native New Yorker, has welcomed patients and families from in and around Astoria, NY (including Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and all surrounding communities) since opening his dental practice in 1991. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Leibowitz, call our office in Astoria today at 718-728-8320.