Reasons to go to the dentist
The Importance of Regular Check-ups
The majority of people visit the dentist because of "pain" or "a filling coming off," and they tend to think of it as a place to go only after symptoms appear. However, the longer you delay treatment, the more treatments you will need, and the more treatments you need, the shorter your teeth will last. And the older you get, the higher your risk of losing your teeth becomes.
Regular medical check-up attendance rates in each country and Japan
In Western countries, where preventive dentistry is well established, significantly more people undergo regular checkups than in Japan. In Japan, the figure is only 80%. In proportion to this, there is a large difference in the number of remaining teeth at age XNUMX.
(Source: Nagasaki University research)
The difference between "receiving" and "not receiving" regular checkups
Looking at the graph, we can see that the difference between people who have kept their teeth and those who don't is whether they have regular checkups or not. This shows that prevention through regular checkups is very important.
(Source: Nagasaki University research)
Main contents of preventive dental treatment
In preventive dentistry,Examinations and treatments to prevent oral diseases such as cavities and periodontal diseaseBy undergoing regular checkups before you get sick, you can reduce your risk of losing teeth in the future.
Comment from Doctor
Beautiful teeth even in old age
This is a preventive treatment that is not well known in Japan.Following the example of Europe and the US, where people maintain healthy teeth even in old age, this has become common in Japan.If you get into the habit of going to the dentist for preventive care, you will avoid painful dental treatments and you will be able to keep your teeth beautiful even as you get older.
Four benefits of preventive dentistry
Benefit 1 of preventive dentistryDetect cavities and periodontal disease early to prevent their progression
The greatest benefit of having regular checkups at the dentist is that it helps detect cavities and periodontal disease early. Early detection of oral disease can help prevent the progression of the condition.If tooth decay is in the early stages, it can be cured without grinding the teeth with proper maintenance. Periodontal disease is often in a severe state by the time symptoms appear,If it is in the early stages, simple treatment such as plaque control can be used.By undergoing regular preventive treatment, you can significantly reduce the risk of experiencing pain due to cavities or periodontal disease, or even losing teeth.
Benefit 2 of preventive dentistryMaintain healthy teeth for a long time
Since we only have a limited number of teeth, unlike a cold,Once a tooth has been damaged by decay and filed down, it will never grow back.There are various treatments to restore the function and appearance of teeth, but generally, they are less durable than natural teeth.Repeated treatments will eventually result in tooth loss.As a result, you may need to leave the tooth missing or consider treatment options such as implants, bridges or dentures.
Benefit 3 of preventive dentistryPreventing "oral frailty" and extending healthy lifespan
Oral frailty is a negative chain reaction that begins with "weakening of the oral muscles," which leads to an increase in the number of things that cannot be chewed, leading to a preference for soft foods, and a decline in chewing function.The deterioration of the mouth has a major impact on the health of the whole body, and preventing oral frailty is an essential element in promoting a healthy lifespan.
Benefit 4 of preventive dentistryReduce the burden of lifetime medical expenses
If tooth decay or periodontal disease becomes severe, you will need to visit the dentist again and again for treatment. Also, if you have had teeth filed or extracted, you will then have to consider what kind of treatment you can use to replace the lost teeth.There are many treatment options available, but they come at a cost.Furthermore, leaving a missing tooth untreated not only puts strain on the surrounding teeth and gradually reduces the number of remaining teeth, but also has a negative impact on your bite and chewing function, affecting your overall health.
Main contents of preventive dental treatment
1. PMTC (Professional Teeth Cleaning)
PMTC is an abbreviation for "Professional Mechanical Tooth Cleaning".A method of cleaning teeth using specialized equipment, materials, and techniques by dental hygienistsIt thoroughly removes dirt and plaque that cannot be removed by regular brushing. PMTC is a more advanced cleaning than the tartar removal covered by insurance.It can remove the biofilm, the mass of bacteria that causes cavities and periodontal disease.It is a highly effective treatment for preventing tooth decay and periodontal disease.
2. Tartar removal (covered by insurance)
This treatment removes tartar, which causes periodontal disease and cavities, and is technically called "scaling." It is an inexpensive treatment that can be covered by insurance,Due to the rules set by insurance treatment, "you need to undergo an examination" and "it is not possible to remove all tartar in one visit"There are restrictions such as the above. For those who want to remove all tartar at once, PMTC is recommended.
3.Plaque control
We will teach you how to take care of your teeth according to the condition of your mouth. In addition to toothbrushes, there are other items for cleaning your teeth, such as floss, interdental brushes, and tufted brushes. We will teach you the appropriate brushing method and how to use the tools according to the alignment of your teeth and the condition of your mouth.
4. Fluoride application
Fluoride is expected to promote the remineralization of teeth and strengthen them. It is effective for all ages,Children's teeth are particularly soft for about two years after they first grow in.Therefore, they are more susceptible to cavities, but regular application of fluoride can strengthen the tooth structure and make it stronger and less susceptible to cavities.
Practice personalized prevention with saliva testing
You can easily check your risk of cavities by simply collecting saliva. Cavities are caused by bacterial infection. Bacterial infection occurs when certain conditions in the oral cavity are met.The causes vary from person to person, with some people having a higher number of bacteria and others having less saliva, which reduces the bactericidal effect.At our clinic, we create a chart to evaluate the risk of tooth decay and recommend preventive measures that are appropriate for each patient.