Even if you take great care of your teeth at home, general visits to the dentist help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Preventative dentistry is incredibly important but easy to ignore. If you would like to know more, keep reading.
What Is Preventative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry is treatment designed to prevent issues like cavities, gum disease, tooth infection, and much more. For this reason, preventative treatments include:
- Cleanings
- Examinations
- X-Rays
- Gum pocket measurements
- Fluoride
- Sealants (usually for kids)
Preventative dentistry is usually non-invasive, so you won't need to worry about pain medication or Novocaine. If you struggle with dental anxiety, however, you can still ask about sedation dentistry. Deep cleanings to remove plaque and tartar below the gum line may require some Novocaine to prevent discomfort.
What Are the Benefits of Preventative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry keeps you and your dentist on top of your oral health. This can reduce future pain, visits, and dental bills associated with:
- Extractions
- Root canal treatments
- Dental crowns
- Gum restoration
- Jawbone restoration
It can also be used to monitor or predict future complications. For example, your dentist can tell if your child may need braces before their permanent teeth erupt. This allows for early intervention, which may improve results, especially if the patient needs palatal expansion.
For this reason, it's important to start dental care early. Most experts recommend you start taking your child to the dentist by the time their first tooth erupts or their first birthday. Dentists also recommend you visit the dentist at least twice a year, but if you are pregnant or have certain conditions, you may need more frequent exams and cleanings.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Preventative Care?
Preventative dental care is usually affordable, especially when compared to restorative and cosmetic procedures. However, in most cases, dental insurance covers preventative care. Many even waive the deductible for preventative care. Depending on your policy, you may or may not need to pay a copayment or coinsurance.
Most insurance carriers, however, have limitations on how often they pay for cleanings and exams. They may also require a certain amount of time to pass between cleanings and exams. In addition, they limit the number of X-rays they cover in a given timeframe.
Preventative dental care is incredibly important to avoid more complicated dental issues. Your insurance will likely cover most or all the cost. If you would like to know more or you want to schedule an appointment, contact a dentist in your area today. For more information on general dentistry, contact a professional near you.
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