Dr. Robert Madden, a

dentist who runs his

own private

practice, Southwest

Family

Dentistry, explains the

most common and

most important aspect

of dentistry.

Preventive dentistry is the combination of practices that helps maintain oral health and prevent oral disease. This is part at-home oral hygiene, such as regular brushing and flossing, and part routine care performed at a dentist's office. Many dentists devote a great deal of time and effort to educating their patients on how to best care for their mouth and teeth when at home, which includes nutrition and regular brushing as well as avoiding smoking.

At a dentist's office, professionals carefully

look for the early signs of periodontal

disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer. They

perform visual examinations as well as X-

rays to look for cavities. Dentists also clean

teeth to remove the buildup of plaque and

often apply fluoride to further protect the

teeth.