What if we told you the more often you see your dentist, the less you’ll spend on dentistry? We know it sounds like a contradiction, but that is the power of preventive dentistry.

We recommend you visit us at least twice a year for a teeth cleaning appointment, including a basic exam. Dental professionals refer to this appointment as prophylaxis (prophy for short), a word derived from a Greek term meaning “guard.” Our services during your teeth cleaning and checkup are intended to prevent the spread and development of disease, particularly tooth decay and gum disease.

Think of your preventive dental care in terms of this metaphor: you’re at home & a lousy rain storm is coming. What would you instead respond to, a weather report telling you there is a flood warning or three feet of water in your living room? Wouldn’t you want the early warning so you have time to place sandbags to keep the water out?

As a dental patient, would you rather have a dental hygienist gently removing plaque and tartar from your teeth or a dentist telling you that your tooth is too far gone to be saved and has to be removed?

We say this not to scare you & not as a threat but because we want you to think of preventive dentistry as an early warning system for your mouth. Instead, We’d let you know about the risks to your health & help you take preventive measures rather than be on the phone with the insurance company telling them about the damage.

A few dodozenandbags are much cheaper than replacing your belongings & repairing damage to your house. Preventive dentistry, like teeth cleanings, is much more affordable and offers repairs to fix decay, such as fillings, crowns, & bridges, or gum disease treatments. If you have dental insurance, most of your annual preventive dental care is covered & won’t cost you any extra money. That’s like if your homeowner’s insurance offered you a load of sandbags for free twice a year, just in case of a flood. If you knew there was a flooding risk, why would you refuse the offer?

So, if you want to avoid costly restorative dentistry or gum disease treatments in the future, be sure to see us for your preventive care and cleaning appointment every six months. An hour of your time twice a year is well worth trying to repair the damage after a catastrophe!