Dental Focus Singapore
ORAL HYGIENE AND
PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preventive dentistry is performed at least twice a year to monitor your oral health, and to facilitate early detection and treatment of dental issues. There are many forms of preventive procedures which, in order to be effective, are best performed together with home care and professional treatment.
preventive dentistry
Preventive Dentistry
Dental disease is a problem that is (almost entirely) preventable. Oral health is also as important as the health of the rest of your body. Dental diseases that are left untreated can lead to serious health problems such as infection, tooth loss, and damage to the bone or nerve.

We all want to have that perfect smile, but not everyone is willing to make the effort to get one. Preventive Dentistry at Dental Focus allows the proactive patient to avoid the discomfort that stems from poor oral health practices.
What is Preventive Dentistry?
Dental Focus strongly believes that “prevention is better than cure,” which is why we advocate preventive dentistry. You can only flaunt a radiant smile for so long, but without any effort to keep your teeth healthy, you increase the risk of teeth wear, gum disease, cavities, and more. Preventive dentistry is the practice of caring for your teeth to keep tooth decay, oral diseases, and other conditions at bay.

Effective preventive dentistry combines home oral care by patients, professional treatments, and counselling by dental professionals. Two dental checkups a year is recommended for professional cleaning and management of any developing conditions. These dental visits involve a thorough exam where any changes or abnormalities can be detected. Other preventive measures include:

  • Dental prophylaxis
  • Good oral hygiene
  • Tooth brushing
  • Early treatment of carious cavities
  • Treatments for periodontal disease, sensitive teeth, and malocclusion
preventive dentistry
wisdom tooth extraction
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Even though they erupt later, wisdom teeth or your “third molars”, are as important as any other teeth. However, with little room left inside the mouth, their eruption often comes riddled with problems, such as impaction. This often lead to pain, infection or facial swelling.


More About Your Third Molars
The eruption of your wisdom teeth is considered a dental milestone that occurs between the ages of 16-21. They are called as such because they come in at a more mature age. They may make you feel some discomfort at the start, but when they come through correctly, they can help you chew.
The Problem
Due to the lack of space at the time when your wisdom teeth finally appear, they often come through in the wrong position. Your dentist will refer to this as impacted, which means it is trapped in your jaw or under your gums or is stuck against the tooth in front of it.

In cases where part of the wisdom tooth has appeared through the gum and a part of it is still covered, the gum may become sore and swollen in a condition called “pericoronitis.” Bits of food and bacteria may collect under the gum’s edge and will be difficult to remove. However, this can be managed using mouthwashes, certain cleaning methods, and possibly antibiotics if its inflamed. If the problem persists, you may have to consider having the tooth removed.
wisdom tooth extraction
gum treatment
Gum Treatment
Gum disease such as gingivitis and periodontal disease are two of the most common dental problems especially in adults. If not treated properly, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss in adults over 40 years old. The control and maintenance of the gums around the teeth is very important as it could lead to to bone loss.

Treatments for gum disease, vary for each patient. The goals for the treatment of gingivitis and periodontal diseases are to identify the factors of gum disease and eliminate them to prevent the gum disease from deteriorating further.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease can affect the soft and hard tissues that are surrounding and supporting your teeth. The primary factor of this gum disease is chronic bacterial infection, which comes from dental plaque – a very fine, thin, and colorless film on your teeth that is formed from the food we eat.

Another source of this bacteria is calculus, which is plaque that stays on your teeth for an extended period of time if they are not removed.

Most factors of gum diseases can be eliminated by manifesting more consistent and meticulous oral hygiene habits and regular professional dental checks. It is very important for periodontal and gum diseases to be treated as soon as possible.
gum treatment
gum treatment
What types of specialists treat gum disease?
Periodontists are the dental specialists who had additional training after completing dental school to focus entirely on the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of gum and bone disease surrounding the teeth.

In advanced cases of periodontal disease or gingivitis, a periodontist may recommend various procedures to help treat the gum disease. Periodontists are highly skilled in performing bone and gum disease treatments of other conditions such as gingivoplasty, gum and bone grafts, implants, functional and aesthetic gingivectomy and crown lengthening.
Is it possible to reverse gum disease?
Gum diseases cause permanent damage to the bone and gum levels. What is lost cannot be replaced, hence regular maintenance is required.

If you aim to have whiter teeth and healthier gums, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our Dental Focus team will be glad to assist you!
gum treatment
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