PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY
.Definition:
Preventive dentistry is a philosophy of dental practice dedicated to the prevention of dental diseases. It is neither a technique nor series of procedures devoted to the prevention of dental diseases.
The most prevalent dental diseases:
Dental caries and periodontal diseases: About 98% of population is affected with dental caries. Though estimates vary, it is generally accepted that about 95% of the population suffers from one or another form of periodontal diseases.
Figure: Dental caries
Initiation of preventive measure:
Ideally, preventive dentistry should be started as early as possible preferably when the child is between 2 and half to 3 years age.
At this stage the child has no preconceptions about the horrors of dentistry and no natural fear of it. Bad habits such as compulsive sweet-eating should have become established and it is easier to inculcate good habits both of diet and of oral hygiene.
Preventive dentistry can successful only if –
a. Patient want to preserve a healthy dentition
b. The dentist can convey his confidence to the patient
c. Rest of the staff particularly hygienists are equally confident of the need for and effective of preventive dentistry.
d. Preventive measure are easy for patient to carry out and the dental team are fully capable of carrying out all the measures.
e. Patients understands the basis for all the preventive measures and the factors determining dental diseases must be
explained in simple fashion.
f. Patient eppreciate that practical preventive dentistry is a continuous process and that hard work has to continue for rest of life.
Objectives :
The major objectives of the preventive dentistry are the----
i. to consider the patient in his or her entirety
ii. to maintain a healthy mouth in a state of optimal health as long as possible
iii. to prevent the initiation of oral diseases
iv. to stop the progression of existing oral diseases as soon as possible
v. to provide the appropriate rehabilitation of form and function at the earliest possible time and as perfectly as possible
vi. to provide the initiation, progression and recurrence of dental diseases The most prevalent dental diseases:
Prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases:
i. Plaque control : Plaque control through regular and through tooth brushing and flossing.
ii. Dietary counseling: The incidence of dental caries may be reduce as much as 50% through effective dietary
counseling programs.
iii. Multiple fluoride therapy: It includes the ingestion of fluorides during the period of tooth formation and maturation posteruptive fluoride treatment(i.e.) topical fluoride applications) and the daily home use of fluorides(i.e dentifrices and
mouth rinses)
iv. Occlusal/ Fissure sealant: Their purpose is to obliterate the stagnation area of occlusal pits and fissures. Fissure
sealant have to seal pits and fissure making it impossible for plaque to become establish.
Preventive dentistry is a philosophy of dental practice dedicated to the prevention of dental diseases. It is neither a technique nor series of procedures devoted to the prevention of dental diseases.
The most prevalent dental diseases:
Dental caries and periodontal diseases: About 98% of population is affected with dental caries. Though estimates vary, it is generally accepted that about 95% of the population suffers from one or another form of periodontal diseases.
Figure: Dental caries
Initiation of preventive measure:
Ideally, preventive dentistry should be started as early as possible preferably when the child is between 2 and half to 3 years age.
At this stage the child has no preconceptions about the horrors of dentistry and no natural fear of it. Bad habits such as compulsive sweet-eating should have become established and it is easier to inculcate good habits both of diet and of oral hygiene.
Preventive dentistry can successful only if –
a. Patient want to preserve a healthy dentition
b. The dentist can convey his confidence to the patient
c. Rest of the staff particularly hygienists are equally confident of the need for and effective of preventive dentistry.
d. Preventive measure are easy for patient to carry out and the dental team are fully capable of carrying out all the measures.
e. Patients understands the basis for all the preventive measures and the factors determining dental diseases must be
explained in simple fashion.
f. Patient eppreciate that practical preventive dentistry is a continuous process and that hard work has to continue for rest of life.
Objectives :
The major objectives of the preventive dentistry are the----
i. to consider the patient in his or her entirety
ii. to maintain a healthy mouth in a state of optimal health as long as possible
iii. to prevent the initiation of oral diseases
iv. to stop the progression of existing oral diseases as soon as possible
v. to provide the appropriate rehabilitation of form and function at the earliest possible time and as perfectly as possible
vi. to provide the initiation, progression and recurrence of dental diseases The most prevalent dental diseases:
Prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases:
i. Plaque control : Plaque control through regular and through tooth brushing and flossing.
ii. Dietary counseling: The incidence of dental caries may be reduce as much as 50% through effective dietary
counseling programs.
iii. Multiple fluoride therapy: It includes the ingestion of fluorides during the period of tooth formation and maturation posteruptive fluoride treatment(i.e.) topical fluoride applications) and the daily home use of fluorides(i.e dentifrices and
mouth rinses)
iv. Occlusal/ Fissure sealant: Their purpose is to obliterate the stagnation area of occlusal pits and fissures. Fissure
sealant have to seal pits and fissure making it impossible for plaque to become establish.