The best way to maintain a happy, healthy smile is to keep serious dental issues from developing. Preventive dentistry focuses on stopping problems before they start, and catching small issues before they turn into big ones.

At Sand Creek Family Dental, we believe in a proactive approach to dental care, not a reactive one. We encourage all of our patients to participate in office based preventive dentistry and home based oral hygiene programs starting with a regular daily schedule of brushing and flossing.

Even if you don’t have any pressing dental concerns, regular dental cleanings and exams are imperative to your overall oral health. It should be an appointment that is regularly scheduled every 6 months. Patients who have gum disease should schedule more thorough dental cleaning every 3-4 months to help slow the progression of gum disease. During these appointments, we evaluate your overall oral health – take X-rays’ remove stains, plaque, and tartar; polish your teeth; and our doctors will provide an oral cancer screening. You can expect these appointments to take approximately 90 minutes for New Patients or 60 minutes for returning patients.

Think of them as a raincoat for your teeth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that live in everyone’s mouth meet leftover food particles, they produce acids that can create holes in teeth. These holes are cavities. After a sealant has been applied it keeps those bits of food out and stops bacteria and acid from settling on your teeth- just like a raincoat keep you clean and dry during a storm. Sealants are a quick, in-office procedure that can significantly reduce your chances of tooth decay. Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. This is especially important for a child’s dental health because without sealants they have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.