Preventative Dentistry
Protect Your Smile for the Future
Dental Exams in Kansas City, MO
Preventive dentistry is about more than finding cavities—it’s about understanding your oral health and identifying concerns before they become bigger problems. At Foundation Dental, Dr. Dixon and his team take a thorough approach to preventive care, evaluating your teeth, gums, bite, and overall oral health while helping you understand what we see and how you can maintain a healthy smile. From routine exams and professional cleanings to periodontal care, sealants, and custom nightguards, our goal is to help you protect your teeth and maintain your oral health for years to come.
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What Is the Goal of Preventative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry is focused on keeping your teeth and gums healthy and identifying problems as early as possible. Regular exams, professional cleanings, appropriate X-rays, and other preventive services allow us to monitor changes over time and look for early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, tooth wear, and other concerns.
Just as importantly, we want you to understand what we see. Dr. Dixon and his team will explain our findings, discuss factors that may affect your oral health, and help you make informed decisions about your care. Combined with good brushing, flossing, and home care, this approach can help you preserve your natural teeth and avoid more complicated dental problems in the future.
Preventive Care for a Healthier Smile
Dental Exams and Cleanings
Regular exams and professional cleanings help us maintain your oral health and identify changes before they become bigger problems. We evaluate your teeth, gums, bite, and existing dental work while removing plaque and tartar that brushing and flossing can’t always reach.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants provide an added layer of protection for teeth with deep grooves that are more susceptible to decay. The thin protective material helps keep bacteria and food debris out of these areas and may be beneficial for both children and adults.
Gum Disease Therapy
Healthy gums are essential to a healthy mouth. We evaluate your periodontal health and, when necessary, provide treatment to control inflammation and infection, protect the supporting structures around your teeth, and help you maintain your natural teeth for years to come.
Custom Nightguards
Clenching and grinding can place excessive forces on your teeth, contributing to wear, cracks, fractures, and damage to dental restorations. A custom nightguard is designed specifically for your bite to help protect your teeth and dental work from these forces while you sleep.
Curodont®
For certain early cavities, Curodont® offers a quick, non-invasive way to help strengthen and repair weakened enamel—with no drilling, needles, or numbing needed. Treatment is simple and comfortable and can help preserve more of your natural tooth structure while potentially preventing the need for a traditional filling.
Pediatric/Family Dentistry
We provide preventive and educational dental care for children and adults, helping patients of all ages build healthy habits and maintain their smiles for years to come.
How Often Should I Go to the Dentist?
How often you should visit the dentist depends on your individual oral health needs. For many patients, preventative visits about every six months are appropriate, while others may benefit from more frequent care based on their gum health, cavity risk, existing dental work, or other factors. At Foundation Dental, Dr. Dixon and his team will recommend a personalized schedule based on your specific needs, with the goal of preventing problems, catching changes early, and helping you maintain your natural teeth for years to come.