Dental Check-ups and Preventive Dentistry

To Maintain Healthy Teeth throughout your Life

Do you believe that dental clinics are only for when your teeth hurt? In reality, practicing “prevention” before any pain arises is crucial for maintaining dental health. At SACHI Dental Clinic, we prioritize preventive dentistry to ensure that everyone can enjoy delicious and pleasant meals with their own teeth throughout their lives.

What is Preventive Dentistry?

Preventive dentistry encompasses efforts to proactively prevent dental diseases such as cavities and periodontal disease, thereby maintaining oral health. This specifically involves regular check-ups and cleanings at the dental clinic, alongside proper brushing techniques at home.

Preventive dentistry offers the following benefits.

• Enables early detection and early treatment of cavities and periodontal disease
• Halts the progression of cavities and periodontal disease, preventing severe complications
• Reduces the risk of tooth loss, allowing you to enjoy meals with your own teeth throughout your life
• Prevents bad breath and maintains a clean oral environment
• Ultimately, saves on treatment costs and time

Why is Preventive Dentistry Important?

Cavities and periodontal disease often present with few to no subjective symptoms in their early stages. Consequently, by the time patients visit a dental clinic due to pain or other symptoms, the disease has often already progressed significantly.

Periodontal disease, in particular, is said to affect approximately 80% of Japanese adults and is the leading cause of tooth loss. Furthermore, periodontal disease has been linked to systemic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, making prevention crucial not only for oral health but also for overall well-being.

Moreover, treating cavities and periodontal disease requires both time and expense. However, by actively engaging in preventive dentistry, the risk of these diseases can be significantly reduced, ultimately leading to a reduction in medical costs.

Preventive Dentistry Services

At our clinic, we offer a variety of preventive dentistry services tailored to each patient’s oral condition and lifestyle.

Regular Check-ups

During a regular check-up, we perform the following:

• Consultation: We will thoroughly inquire about your current dental condition, lifestyle habits, and any concerns you may have.
• Visual Examination: We check the entire oral cavity for cavities, periodontal disease, mucosal abnormalities, and other issues.
• X-ray Examination: If necessary, X-rays are taken to check for unseen cavities, periodontal disease, and the condition of the jawbone.
• Periodontal Examination: Using an instrument called a probe, we measure the depth of periodontal pockets and check for gum inflammation, bleeding, and tooth mobility.
• Cavity Check: We check for the presence and progression of cavities using specialized instruments and visual examination.

Based on these examination results, we propose a personalized preventive plan for each patient. The frequency of regular check-ups varies depending on your oral condition, but generally, we recommend them every 3 to 6 months.

Professional Mechanical Tooth Cleaning (PMTC)

PMTC stands for Professional Mechanical Tooth Cleaning, which is a dental cleaning performed by a dentist or dental hygienist using specialized equipment. It thoroughly removes plaque, calculus, and stains that cannot be removed by daily brushing, leaving the tooth surfaces smooth. PMTC is an essential professional care for maintaining dental health.

PMTC offers the following benefits:

• Prevention of cavities and periodontal disease
• Prevention of bad breath
• Removal of tooth discoloration (stain removal)
• Strengthening of tooth enamel

Airflow

Airflow is a cleaning method that uses fine powder particles sprayed onto the tooth surface to remove plaque and stains (discoloration) attached to the teeth. It can effectively remove dirt from areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush or interdental brush. This innovative cleaning method removes stains without damaging the teeth.

Airflow offers the following benefits:

• Removal of surface stains on teeth
• Cleaning of periodontal pockets
• Biofilm removal
• Gum massage effect

Fluoride Application

Fluoride application is a method of strengthening tooth enamel and preventing cavities by applying a high concentration of fluoride to the tooth surface. Fluoride application performed at a dental clinic uses a higher concentration of fluoride compared to toothpaste used at home, thus offering a greater cavity prevention effect.

Fluoride offers the following benefits:

• Promotes tooth remineralization
• Strengthens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acid
• Suppresses the activity of cavity-causing bacteria

At our clinic, we propose the optimal fluoride application method tailored to age and circumstances, such as fluoride gel for children and fluoride mouthwash for adults.

Brushing Instruction

Proper brushing is fundamental to preventing cavities and periodontal disease. At our clinic, we provide careful instruction on appropriate brushing techniques tailored to each patient’s oral condition. We clearly explain how to choose, hold, and move a toothbrush, as well as how to use interdental brushes and dental floss.

Lifestyle Guidance

Dental health is closely linked to daily lifestyle habits. At our clinic, we thoroughly discuss lifestyle habits that affect dental health, such as diet, smoking habits, and stress, and provide advice for improvement.

Preventive Dentistry by Age Group

It is important to provide appropriate preventive dental care tailored to each age and life stage.

Preventive Dentistry for Children

Deciduous teeth are more prone to cavities and their progression is faster than permanent teeth, making early prevention extremely important. At our clinic, we provide the following preventive treatments tailored to your child’s developmental stage:

Fluoride Application
Sealants: Prevent cavities by filling the grooves of back teeth with special resin.
Brushing Instruction: We provide enjoyable and thorough guidance on proper brushing techniques.
Regular Checkups: Early detection of cavities and dental alignment issues, with appropriate treatment provided.

Additionally, we provide detailed advice to parents on home care, such as finishing brushing techniques and how to give snacks.

Preventive Dentistry for Adults

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss

and often progresses without subjective symptoms, making regular check-ups and professional care indispensable. At our clinic, we provide the following preventive treatments:

Regular Checkups: We conduct periodontal disease examinations, cavity checks, X-ray examinations, and other procedures to thoroughly assess your oral condition.
PMTC・Airflow: Beyond tartar removal, we remove biofilm and stains adhering to tooth surfaces to prevent periodontal disease and cavities.
Brushing Instruction: We provide guidance on appropriate brushing methods tailored to each patient’s individual oral condition.
Lifestyle Guidance: We provide advice on lifestyle habits that increase periodontal disease risk, such as diet and smoking habits.

Furthermore, our clinic also focuses on preventing bad breath. We propose care to remove periodontal bacteria and tongue coating, which cause bad breath, and maintain a clean oral environment. Achieve healthy teeth and fresh breath with “Adult Preventive Dentistry.”

Preventive Dentistry for Seniors

As people age, saliva secretion decreases, increasing the risk of cavities and periodontal disease. Additionally, oral problems may become more frequent due to the effects of systemic diseases or side effects of medications being taken. At our clinic, considering the oral and general health conditions of elderly patients, we provide the following preventive treatments:

Regular Checkups: We thoroughly assess your oral condition and provide necessary treatment.
PMTC・Airflow: Beyond tartar removal, we remove biofilm and stains adhering to tooth surfaces to prevent periodontal disease and cavities.
Oral Function Training: We provide training to strengthen the muscles around the mouth and maintain or improve chewing and swallowing abilities.
Aspiration Pneumonia Prevention: We provide guidance and care to prevent aspiration, where saliva or food accidentally enters the trachea.
Dry Mouth Treatment: We provide care to alleviate dry mouth symptoms, including massage to promote saliva production and the use of moisturizing agents.

Preventive dentistry for seniors aims not only to maintain oral health but also to preserve overall health and improve QOL (Quality of Life). With “Preventive Dentistry for Seniors,” enjoy delicious meals and lead a healthy life for many years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How often should I visit for preventive dentistry?

This varies depending on your oral condition, but generally, we recommend regular check-ups every 3 to 6 months. For those with a high risk of cavities or periodontal disease, or those undergoing orthodontic treatment, check-ups may be necessary every 1 to 2 months.

How much does preventive dentistry cost?

The cost of preventive dentistry varies, with some procedures covered by insurance and others being self-pay. For example, regular check-ups and calculus removal are covered by insurance, while PMTC and Airflow are self-pay treatments. Please feel free to contact our clinic for more details.

Is PMTC painful?

PMTC involves cleaning the tooth surface with specialized equipment, so it is rarely painful. However, those with gum inflammation or sensitive teeth may experience temporary discomfort.

Does Airflow damage teeth?

Airflow uses fine powder particles sprayed onto the tooth surface to remove stains, so there is no concern about damaging the teeth. On the contrary, it smooths the tooth surface, making it more resistant to plaque and stain accumulation.

At what age should I start brushing my child’s teeth?

Once teeth begin to erupt, start with gauze cleaning. Around 1 year of age, begin practicing brushing with an infant toothbrush. Continue with finishing brushing until your child is in the upper elementary grades.