PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

Preventive Dentistry today is a major therapeutic modality based on a sound anatomical, physiological and technical principles. In olden days there was a lack of awareness of the fact that dentition plays a vital role for maintaining good health. There were no institutions which would spread the important of preventive dentistry.

People are now becoming aware of the fact that dentition is essential for proper chewing and hence proper digestion good facial appearance and aesthetics. There are various preventive treatment techniques for lifelong prevention of teeth and to improve the appearance of teeth and the jaws.

The main aims of preventive dentistry is to prevent dental diseases. This is realize by taking proper care of teeth and identifying, intercepting & treating dental diseases at an incipient stage.

Our diet and chewing habits effect our teeth in a major way. In adult and teenagers the habits of chewable like pan masala, gutkha, tobbaco and smoking is playing a havoc with dental and oral health. The constituents which are present in this chewable leads stain on teeth. Besides, they also cause many other dental and gum diseases. The most dangerous among this is a disease called as Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF). This is a debilitating disease of the mouth in which there is a progressive reduction of mouth opening because the delicate skin of the mouth gets scarred due to constituents present in the chewable. Sometimes, it may progress to full fledged oral cancer.

One the major aim of preventive dentistry in India today is to try to reduce the consumption of harmful products and smoking. Dental association are doing their best but they are hampered by illiteracy in the general population, unresponsive and corrupt bureaucracy and lack of funds.

In children the habits of eating sweets, chocolates, is increasing at a rapid rate and is devastating dental health. Excessive consumption of the sweets leads to cavities in teeth. Cavities progress ultimately the tooth is infected and has to be extracted prematurely.

If proper treatment is not carried at the right time it will cause deleterious effects in the permanent teeth also.
Children must get fluoride applied on their teeth regularly by a dental surgeon. The frequency of fluoride application decided by the dental surgeon. Children must also rinse with a fluoride mouthwash regularly. Fluoride strengthen tooth enamels and make it resist cavities. Topical fluoride application is one of the most successful preventive dentistry techniques. If followed up by proper home care is substantially reduces the incidence of cavities.

As the permanent erupt, on their surfaces a sealant is applied which is known as pit and fissure sealants. Most of the cavities in children start in the pit and fissure of the biting surface of the back teeth. Therefore it is better to seal them before the decay process starts. In fact, in our practice we have a recall system which reminds parents about application of pit and fissure sealants and fluorides.

Several have shown that fluorides application and pit and fissure sealants go a long way in preventing cavities. As much as sixty percent reduction in the incidence cavities can be expected if followed up with the proper home care and sensible dietary habits.

It would be the best to care of the teeth and prevent them from being extracted.

However, the teeth which are extracted should be replaced with good quality artificial denture so that longevity of the other teeth increases. If a tooth is not replaced than over a period of time gaps developed between teeth. These gaps act as a food traps and cause dental disease. Dentures can therefore be thought as a part preventive dental service.

The toothbrush is a ubiquitous instrument used for removing plaque. However, simply brushing is not enough. Some other interdental cleansing aids must be used to prevent dental disease. This is especially important in older age groups.
Interdental cleansing aids such as oral irrigator, dental probes, dental floss are used to clean in between teeth where it is difficult to clean with the routine brush. Dental floss is a thread used to remove food particles which are stuck on and when applied on the teeth stain the plaque which is usually not easily visible with the naked eyes.

Dentistry has evolved various methods and materials to maintain our oral hygiene. Interdental cleansing aids is a must for successful and long term prevention of dental disease.

Even a physically healthy person is loosing something if he is not aware of the important of dentistry is one’s life. Good oral health is a part of successful leaving.

Regular dental checkup by competent dental surgeon is important. Dental diseases are sypstom less in the initial stage. It require a dental surgeon to look for the initial stage of dental disease and point it out to the patient. The dental surgeon will also evaluate the oral hygiene practices of the patience and suggests improvements. Regularly scaling (Professional cleansing of teeth) is also necessary. Even with the original practices amount to some amounts of plaque do tends to get accumulated at a few places, over a period of a time it can cause problems. Therefore regular scaling the frequency of which is determined by the dental surgeon is a must. Regular dental checkup is a must in any preventive dentistry program.

However, dental health as in general health is too serious a business to be left to dental health professionals alone. Patient cooperation by practicing proper oral hygiene techniques is essential. Dental health professional are meant only for guidance, evaluation and supervision. Maintaining dental health and general health is each individual own responsibility.

Facial aesthetics is very important for overall appearance. Orthodontics appliances are used to correct malaligned and malposed teeth. Orthodontics treatment are best carried out during the growing years. Treatment during these years yields best and quick results. Just before the onset of puberty the growth suddenly accelerates. This phenomenon is known as prepubertal growth spurt. Orthodontics treatment should be time to take maximum advantage of prepubertal growth spurt.

The first orthodontic consultation should be at around t eight or nine year of age. If the dentist feels that malocclusion is developing then interceptive and preventive orthodontics treatment can be started. Orthodontics treatment can be carried out in later years also but the best and quick results are obtained by early detection and treatment during growing years.

In India, the rate of vehicular accidents is very high. Many accident especially two wheelers accident results in head injuries and injuries to the jaws and teeth. A mouth guard can be fabricated which is to worn on the outer surfaces of the teeth. Inside the mouth it is made of soft plastic and is comfortable. It protect the teeth and jaws to some extent from injuries. Mouth guard also recommended while engaging in contact sport like football, hockey etc. Mouth guard are fabricated in a dental laboratory on a dental models prepared by a dental surgeon.

The ultimate aim of the dental professions is to eliminate the need for its own existence. Such an utopian objectives can never be achieved. However, we should try and towards it.