Preventive

dentistry

Grigoriță Anastasia
Al Zubi Rose-Anne
Toader Andreea
Contents
• What is prevention?
• Why is prevention important?
• Objectives of preventive dentistry
• What are cavities?
• Risk factors for tooth decay
• Stage of caries development
• Symptoms of tooth decay
• Prevention at home VS prevention at the dental office
• How to brush your teeth?
• The best and worst food for your teeth
• 5 steps of prevention
What is prevention?
The act or practice of stopping
something bad from happening.
Prevention- also called
preventive health- is any action
taken to keep people healthy
and well, and prevent or avoid
risk or poor health, illness,
injury and early death.
Preventive dentistry is a modern way of oral health care that includes all phases of dentistry.

It includes not only the prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases through the use
of proper diet, home care, and regular dental examinations, but it also includes proper
restoration and replacement of teeth, root canal treatment, orthodontic braces, and even
the surgical removal of teeth to prevent the spread of infection.

Also of great importance in preventive dentistry is the discovery of other oral diseases, such
as cancer, through soft tissue examinations.
 • Better health and healthcare
Why is - According to the World Health
prevention Organization, 80% of chronic diseases are
preventable. The major contributors to
important? chronic disease are an unhealthy diet,
physical inactivity and tobacco use.
- People who are actively involved in their
health are more likely to have
positive experiences with their healthcare
providers and get their health needs met.
Lower costs

taking care of yourself prevents health problems and saves money by reducing
the number of office visits and medications you need.
self-care reduce the heavy costs of healthcare associated with disease.

good health habits can save money by cutting back on healthcare expenses.

going to the dental office on time will not be an expensive one if the problem
is not advanced, the earlier you go, you can prevent the advancement.
Oral health is connected to your
general health

Impacts the ability to speak, smile,

taste and digest proper nutrition

Affects one’s everyday quality of

life
 Objectives of preventive dentistry

• Prevent factors which • prevent factors evoke more • prevent factors which tend to
predispose to disease severe manifestation of acute maintain disease in a chronic
diseases state

• prevent factors which • Prevent the complications of

interfere with rehabilitation the disease
• prevents infection, plaque,
bleeding gums, mouth sores
 • Cavities occur when bacteria
in plaque metabolize dietary sugar to make acid.
The acid demineralizes the tooth and creates a
“cavity”.

What are • Continuous acid attacks can cause the enamel of the
tooth to break down.
cavities?
Also known as • Refined sugars found in candy, crackers and soda
make it easier for bacteria to breakdown into acid.
tooth decay
• Cavities can happen on any surface of the tooth.

• Saliva acts as natural defense to help repair enamel.

What are common factors of
oral disease?
Unhealthy diet Tobacco use Alcohol use

Poor oral hygiene Quality of life General health

Personal history
High sugar- of caries or
containing diet periodontal
disease
Tooth Anatomy
The stages of
caries
development
 Toothache- either continuous pain keeping you awake or
occasional sharp pain without an obvious cause.

Tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain

when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet.

Symptoms of Grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth.

tooth decay
Bad breath.

An unpleasant taste in your mouth.

 Prevention at home
VS
prevention at the dental office

Ways to practice
preventative dental care at home:
• Brush your teeth
• Floss your teeth
• Look after your tongue
• Use mouthwash
• Take care of your diet
• Ways to practice preventative dental care at the dental office:

- early treatment of carious cavities

- sanitization and professional brushing
- scaling teeth using ultrasound technology
- dental fluoridation
- sealing of groves
 How to brush your teeth

• Use a small amount of tooth paste

• Brush the outer surface using down strokes
• Brush the inside surface of your teeth
• Brush the chewing surface
• Brush the surface of your tongue
• Rinse out your mouth using water
• Brush twice a day
 The Best and Worst
Foods for your Teet
h

The good guys:

• Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
• Cheese, milk, plain yogurt, and
other dairy products.
• Green and black teas
• Sugarless chewing gum
• Foods with fluoride
 The Best and
Worst Foods for
your Teeth
The bad guys:
• Sticky candies and sweets
• Starchy foods that can get stuck
in your mouth
• Carbonated soft drinks
• Substances that dry out your
mouth
5 Steps of
Prevention
 Thank you
and take
care of your
oral health!