Preventive Dentistry in North Tampa, FL
At North Tampa Dentistry, we stress the importance of preventive dental care. Preventive dentistry helps patients near Tampa avoid tooth emergencies, cavities, and dental infections.
And diligent at-home oral care like daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing are the first steps to keep you and your family cavity-free.
Additionally, regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings at North Tampa Dentistry help lower your risks for severe oral health complications and promote better overall wellness.
Dr. Roberto Bellegarrigue and his entire dental staff always encourage these preventive practices via professional cleanings to help you avoid dental problems!
Oral Health Affects Your Overall Health
Maintaining your oral health is crucial, but for more reasons than you may think. Research has shown that oral health is linked to your general well-being. For example, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, lung disease, strokes, complications during pregnancy, and low birth weight deliveries may, in some cases, be tied to oral infections.
Teeth Cleanings to Remove Plaque and Tartar
We typically recommend regular dental checkups for patients with perfect oral health every six months. These appointments allow Dr. Bellegarrigue to monitor dental conditions like cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Other patients may need to arrange dental visits as often as three or four times a year to monitor ongoing gum disease.
Dr. Bellagarrigue will perform a comprehensive dental evaluation on all your teeth and oral structures, check your gum health, and note any areas of concern. Since many other issues can have a significant impact on your oral health, every dental checkup includes:
- Oral cancer screening
- Jaw health screening for TMJ
- Comprehensive exam
- X-rays when needed
Based on exam findings, your dentist will create a treatment plan. For example, if you have a cavity, the plan may include placing a tooth filling.
Some of our patients ask why professional teeth cleanings are necessary despite daily at-home maintenance. While brushing and flossing can prevent many oral problems, some spaces between teeth and below the gum line are hard to reach without special instruments.