It's crucial to focus on preventive dental care so you can avoid painful and costly problems that could impact your health.
Preventive dental care matters because it can reduce the need for extensive dental work such as fillings, extractions, crowns, implants, and bridges.
But dental problems that are avoidable through proper preventive care can impact more than just your teeth. Dental issues like gingivitis and periodontitis can contribute to other serious health problems, including:1
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Pneumonia
- Pregnancy complications, including premature birth and low birth weight
Common preventive services
You can help prevent various dental issues by seeing your dentist for preventive care every 6 months.1 Many dental insurance plans fully cover regular dentist visits and preventive services such as cleanings, check-ups, and fluoride treatments.
Here's what you can expect when you head to the dentist for your preventive visit:
Your dentist will check for tooth decay and gum disease and ensure smooth fillings to allow for proper cleaning at home. They will perform a detailed cleaning to remove plaque and tartar that naturally builds up on your teeth. They may also share tips for at-home care.
You may also receive fluoride treatment or sealants to help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride treatment helps by making your teeth stronger and less vulnerable to acid. A sealant is a protective surface applied to the bottom of your teeth to make the surface smoother and easier to clean.
If your exam reveals a damaged tooth, your dentist can create a treatment plan. That may mean a follow-up appointment for services such as a new filling, which restores the tooth by filling in cavities or damage; a crown, which covers an entire tooth; or an onlay, which covers part of a tooth.
Good preventive dental care starts with you. You can prevent common dental problems, like cavities and gingivitis, by:
- Brushing your teeth twice daily for two full minutes using fluoride toothpaste
- Flossing to clean in between your teeth daily
- Brushing your tongue or use a tongue scraper
- Rinsing with an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash every day
- Avoiding sugary drinks and snacks
- Using an electric toothbrush to more effectively remove dental plaque and decrease gum inflammation
- Avoiding at-home orthodontic treatments
- Consuming fluoridated water to reduce your risk of cavities
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding oral piercings
Take the confusion out of health insurance
Our Knowledge Center features helpful articles with simple and reliable information for all your insurance questions, from how to submit a claim to how to find the right doctor.
Learn how dental insurance can benefit your long-term dental health.
An explanation of benefits (EOB) is a list of claims your insurance company received from your providers. It’s not a bill – it’s a document your insurance company sends you after a medical claim has been processed.
Use this health insurance glossary to expand your understanding of common and key health insurance terms.
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