The Case for Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry is the part of dental care designed to keep you from needing the rest of it. Regular checkups, thorough cleanings, early detection and a few protective treatments can’t promise you will never need a filling or a crown, but they give you the best chance of catching problems while they are small, simple and easier to treat.

Here is the case for preventive dentistry, what it includes at the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS, and what you can do between visits to make it work.

What is preventive dentistry?

Preventive dentistry covers everything that protects healthy teeth and gums before something goes wrong: professional cleanings, dental exams, X-rays and other ways of finding early decay, oral cancer screening, treatments that protect enamel, and the daily oral hygiene you keep at home. Its opposite is waiting until something hurts. By then, decay may have spread deeper into a tooth, or gum inflammation may have become an infection, and the treatment is usually bigger.

Why prevention beats repair

Most dental problems start quietly

Early tooth decay rarely hurts. Gum disease often starts with nothing more than a little bleeding when you brush. An old filling can develop decay underneath without any warning. Because these problems develop silently, the only reliable way to find them early is to look for them regularly.

Small problems need smaller treatment

A cavity caught early usually needs only a filling. Left alone, decay can reach the pulp inside the tooth, where a root canal may be needed to save it, followed by a crown to protect it. Gum infection that is caught early and treated as a serious infection can be managed and controlled. Every step you avoid saves time, discomfort and cost.

Healthy gums matter beyond your mouth

The health of your gums has been linked to serious health risks such as diabetes and cardiac disease. The practice’s cleaning page cites evidence gathered at Temple University listing at least 12 diseases and 4 cancers linked with periodontal bacteria. Preventive care is not a cure for any of these conditions, but keeping gum infection under control is part of looking after your overall health.

What preventive dental care includes in Timonium

Checkups every six months

The practice recommends a professional cleaning and checkup every six months. At each checkup, Dr. Haywood evaluates your teeth and gums, looks for decay and signs of infection, and checks your bite. An oral cancer screening is part of the check-up.

Hour-long cleanings

Cleaning appointments here last a full 60 minutes. That time lets the hygienist remove plaque and tartar thoroughly, including the buildup that daily brushing and flossing miss, and check the health of your gums. The practice holds very high standards for gum health and strives for zero bleeding and zero infection.

Digital X-rays and intraoral cameras

Digital X-rays help spot decay, infection and other problems early. They appear on screen right away and involve as much as 90 percent less radiation exposure than traditional film. Intraoral cameras let the team zoom in on each section of your mouth, so you see what Dr. Haywood sees and understand why any treatment is recommended.

DIAGNOdent laser decay detection

DIAGNOdent is a laser pen that can detect small amounts of decay at the earliest stages, sometimes before it can be seen on an X-ray. Finding decay that early, before any discomfort develops, means fewer surprise cavities. See the dental technology used in the office.

Oral cancer screening with ViziLite

The screening is quick and pain-free and checks the soft tissues of your mouth, throat and tongue. ViziLite uses a special solution that makes abnormal cells easier to see, and the practice recommends that all patients over eighteen be screened once a year. Read more about oral cancer screening.

Gum testing and non-surgical gum care

If your gums show signs of infection, oral DNA testing can identify which periodontal bacteria are present, so treatment is more accurate. Care is non-surgical, from scaling and root planing to periodontal maintenance. See gum disease treatment.

Treatments that add protection

Super sealants

Super sealants seal the chewing surfaces and all the pits and fissures of adult and children’s teeth, so bacterial byproducts and simple sugars can’t collect there. That helps prevent cavities in the enamel. The process is simple and painless, and the practice offers a lifetime warranty.

Non-fluoride enamel rebuilding and xylitol

Many offices rely on fluoride treatments. This practice avoids fluoride and offers calcium rebuilding treatments instead, to help strengthen enamel for patients of all ages. That matters because decay rates increase with age, and medications and dry mouth can set the stage for root decay. Xylitol mints and lollipops also help reduce decay risk.

Custom bite guards

Grinding and clenching slowly wear down and crack enamel, often without you noticing, and untreated grinding wear can be very costly to repair. A comfortable, clear bite guard custom-made for you helps protect your teeth. If jaw pain or headaches come with the grinding, a TMJ evaluation may be worthwhile.

All of these are described on the cleanings and prevention page.

Your part: preventive care at home

Professional care works best alongside good daily habits. None of this is complicated, but consistency counts:

• Brush twice a day with a soft brush, paying attention to the gumline and back teeth.
• Clean between your teeth every day. Floss, floss picks and water flossers each have a place; see why a water flosser might be a good idea and are floss picks as good as regular dental floss?
• Go easy on sugary and sticky snacks, especially between meals. Why do gummy bears hurt my teeth? explains why.
• Drink water through the day to rinse away food particles and keep your mouth from drying out.
• Don’t ignore bleeding gums. Bleeding is a sign of inflammation, not a reason to stop flossing.

Preventive dentistry at every age

Prevention looks a little different at each stage of life. For children, it is about building habits and protecting new teeth; our guide on how to prevent cavities in children covers that. For adults, it is about catching decay around older fillings, controlling gum disease and protecting teeth from grinding. Later in life, medications and dry mouth can raise the risk of root decay, which is why enamel-strengthening care is offered for patients of all ages. Family dentistry is part of the practice, so everyone in the household can be seen in the same Timonium office.

What if it has been a while?

Plenty of patients come back to the dentist after years away, often because they were nervous. There is no lecture here. Your first appointment starts with a conversation about your concerns and health history, then a careful exam and X-rays, and your options are explained clearly before anything happens. Laughing gas is complimentary on request, and oral and IV sedation are available. See general dentistry in Timonium.

How does dental insurance work for preventive visits?

What your plan pays for preventive services depends on the plan. The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies: you pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with payment plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I have preventive dental visits?

A professional cleaning and checkup every six months is recommended. If you have been treated for gum disease, periodontal maintenance helps keep it under control.

Why are cleanings here 60 minutes long?

One full hour gives the team time to use their skill and experience on your teeth and gums, removing plaque and tartar thoroughly rather than rushing.

Does the practice use fluoride?

No. The practice avoids fluoride and offers non-fluoride calcium rebuilding treatments and xylitol products instead.

Can preventive dentistry find cavities before they hurt?

Yes. Digital X-rays and DIAGNOdent laser detection help find decay at its earliest stages, sometimes before it shows on an X-ray and before any discomfort develops.

Are sealants only for children?

No. Super sealants protect the chewing surfaces of adult and children’s teeth, and the practice offers a lifetime warranty.

Book your preventive visit in Timonium

The easiest dental problem to treat is the one caught early. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399 to schedule your checkup and 60-minute cleaning with Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093. New patients are always welcome.