Preventative Dentistry

A healthy smile goes beyond good looks—it reflects your overall well-being. At Aurora Family Dental, we are proud to offer preventative dentistry in Aurora, NE, with the goal of keeping your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. Led by Dr. Chancy Hanquist, our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional care in a welcoming and professional environment.

What Is Preventative Dentistry?

Preventative dentistry focuses on maintaining good oral health and preventing dental problems before they occur. This proactive approach includes regular dental check-ups, professional cleanings, and patient education on oral hygiene. With preventative care, you reduce your risk of issues like cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss while saving time, money, and discomfort in the long run.

At Aurora Family Dental, we provide preventative dentistry in Aurora to help patients of all ages achieve and maintain healthy smiles. From routine exams to personalized advice, our team ensures you get the care you need to stay ahead of dental problems.

Why Is Preventative Dentistry Important?

1. Avoid Costly Treatments: Routine care can detect issues early, preventing them from developing into more serious (and expensive) problems. For example, treating a cavity with a small filling is much easier and cheaper than dealing with a root canal or extraction.
2. Maintain a Healthy Smile: Regular cleanings and check-ups help remove plaque and tartar buildup, keeping your teeth bright and free from decay. Preventative dentistry ensures your smile remains healthy and confident.
3. Prevent Gum Disease: Gum disease begins as gingivitis, which we can often reverse with proper care. Without preventative treatments, it could progress into periodontitis, which may cause tooth loss.
4. Protect Your Overall Health: Oral health is closely linked to general health. Poor oral hygiene may lead to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and even pregnancy complications (low birth weight, pre-term birth, etc.). Preventative dentistry can reduce these risks. Preventative care is the foundation of lifelong oral health. Here’s why it’s so essential for everyone—children, adults, and seniors alike:
5. Support Children’s Growth: Preventative care fosters healthy habits early on for children, ensuring proper oral development and reducing their risk of braces or other corrective treatments later in life.

Services We Offer at Aurora Family Dental

At Aurora Family Dental, we provide a wide range of preventative dentistry in Aurora to meet your family’s needs. Our services include:

Routine Cleanings and Exams: Maintain your oral health with professional cleanings and thorough check-ups designed to catch issues early.
Digital X-rays: Safe, low-radiation X-rays allow us to detect hidden problems like cavities or bone loss.
Fluoride Treatments: Strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay with fluoride treatments tailored to your needs.
Dental Sealants: A protective coat is applied to teeth to shield them from bacteria and decay, which is especially beneficial for kids.
Night Guards: Protect your teeth from grinding or clenching while sleeping to prevent damage and jaw pain.
Oral Cancer Screening: Routine exams can include screenings to detect any signs of oral cancer early.

Caring for Your Smile at Home

While regular visits to our office are vital, maintaining good oral hygiene at home is just as important. Here’s a simple guide to caring for your smile between appointments—and supporting the benefits of preventative dentistry in Aurora.

Brush Twice a Day: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to gently clean your teeth for at least two minutes, morning and night. Don’t forget to brush all surfaces of your teeth and your tongue!
Floss Daily: Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth and along the gumline—areas your brush can’t reach.
Eat a Balanced Diet: Limit sugary snacks and drinks, which contribute to cavities, and include foods like vegetables and dairy that promote strong teeth. Water is always a great choice to support oral hydration and rinsing away debris.
Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly: Swap out your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three months or sooner if the bristles have suffered from damage. Worn-out brushes are less effective at cleaning.
Don’t Skip Your Dental Appointments: Visiting our office every six months for professional cleanings and exams keeps your smile in check and allows us to address concerns before they become more significant problems.