Preventive Dentistry in Sunnyvale, CA

The goal of preventive dentistry in Sunnyvale is to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums and ward off more complex or involved dental problems in the future. Routine checkups and proper at-home oral care can greatly reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease and help you keep your natural teeth throughout your life.

At Spruce Dental, we partner with our patients and provide the support, education, and treatment needed to protect their oral health. The result is a healthier smile, lower dental costs, less discomfort, and fewer emergency dental visits.

What Does Preventive Dentistry in Sunnyvale Include?

In addition to teeth cleanings and exams every six months, preventive dentistry at our Sunnyvale, CA, dental office includes:

• Providing fluoride applications and dental sealants
• Inspecting oral devices and tooth restorations to ensure they’re in good condition
• Taking routine and diagnostic x-rays as needed
• Performing oral cancer screenings
• Reviewing dietary changes to support better oral health
• Recommending oral health products or hygiene aids
• Customizing mouthguards for protection during sports activities

Prevention is a team effort that also requires you to do your part to maintain excellent oral health:

• Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once.
• Follow the advice of your hygienist and dentist to improve dietary habits, including cutting out foods high in sugar and carbohydrates.
• Wear a protective mouthguard when participating in sports like basketball, football, and soccer.

During your comprehensive six-month dental exam, Dr. Neri and Dr. Call will ask if you have noticed any changes in your teeth or gums since your last visit to see if you have specific issues we need to address.

As part of your exam, they use an intraoral camera that captures real-time images of the inside of your mouth and displays them on your chairside monitor. You have a front-row seat and can easily follow along with our dentist as they move the camera around your mouth.

If they notice a cavity or broken or worn tooth, you can look at your monitor and see what they see to understand why we recommend treatment and how it will benefit your oral health.

Teeth Cleanings in Sunnyvale with a Hygienist

Oral hygiene is another aspect of prevention that requires a team effort. You should brush at least twice a day and floss once to remove as much cavity-causing plaque from your teeth as possible.

Every six months (or as recommended), your hygienist steps in to remove whatever your brush and floss miss. They remove lingering plaque and use specialized instruments to eliminate tartar, which is hardened plaque that you cannot remove at home.

A crucial part of your dental cleaning is checking for signs of gum or periodontal disease. If your hygienist finds gingivitis (early gum disease), they will provide a thorough cleaning and tips for upping your oral hygiene game.

If you have advanced gum disease called periodontitis, your hygienist will create a treatment plan to prevent it from progressing and damaging your gums and the structures that hold your teeth in place.

Has it been more than six months since your last exam and teeth cleaning? We would love to help you! Please call our Sunnyvale, CA, dental office to schedule an appointment.

We are pleased to serve friends and neighbors in Santa Clara County and surrounding areas, including Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and beyond.