Preventive Dentistry in Fitchburg, MA: Proactively Protecting Your Smile
What Is Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dentistry involves establishing habits that will keep your teeth healthy and help you avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, and more. During your regular dentist visit at Watkin Dental Associates, your dental hygienist will point out any issues that you may be having with your oral hygiene. Your hygienist will perform a cleaning, dental exam, an oral cancer exam, and take any necessary X-rays.
We will also evaluate the appearance of your teeth and recommend any aesthetic procedures that will enhance your smile, such as cosmetic or orthodontic procedures. Since we began serving patients in Fitchburg, MA as well as the surrounding areas, our goal has been a whole-body health approach.
What You Can Do to Prevent Tooth Decay
Establishing at-home oral hygiene habits is essential to keeping your teeth healthy. Brushing twice a day for at least two minutes and flossing after eating will help to remove plaque and decay.
Scheduling and attending regular dental visits allows our trained staff of oral hygienists to assist with your oral health by catching any problems that may be lurking before they become serious.
In addition to routine visits and dental cleanings, we also specialize in the following preventive dental treatments:
- Dental Sealants: Dental sealants are an effective preventive measure against cavities and tooth decay that we offer here at Watkin Dental Associates. They coat the small indentations in your teeth, forming a protective layer against plaque and decay.
- Fluoride Treatments: We know that cavity prevention is a continuous quest. Fortunately, there are many tools we use here at Watkin Dental Associates to help fight tooth decay, including topical fluoride treatments.
- Sports Mouthguards: Most contact sports require athletes to wear mouthguards. However, once you begin orthodontic treatment, your old mouthguard may not fit properly. Properly fitted mouthguards help protect an athlete’s teeth as well as their teammates on the field.
- Custom Sports Mouthguards: All forms of physical activity pose risks, but contact sports are among the most hazardous. For that reason, mouthguards are a necessary piece of athletic equipment. They will protect against broken teeth, cut lips, and various other injuries to your jaw and mouth.
- Oral Cancer Screening: We at Watkin Dental Associates want to stop oral cancer in its tracks by diagnosing it early, and that’s where oral cancer screenings come in.
- Night Guards for Clenching: Stopping sleep bruxism can be very difficult, but one way to protect your teeth from the damaging effects of grinding and clenching at night is to wear a custom night guard.
- Laser Assisted Hygiene: Today with dental lasers we now can better treat gum disease by effectively killing bacteria beyond where our instruments can reach. We recommend laser bacterial reduction with your dental hygiene therapy appointments to provide various benefits.
Help Us Help You Take Care of Your Teeth!
Our recommendation is to visit us at Watkin Dental Associates twice a year for regular cleanings and preventive treatments from our dentists. When you do this, we can detect any problems early, when they are much easier (and less costly) to fix.
Here at Watkin Dental Associates, we’re excited to help keep you healthy and happy with our preventive dentistry services! If you live in Fitchburg, MA and do not have an appointment scheduled, please contact us to request one.