What is Preventative Dental Care?

Brushing and flossing your teeth daily is the most important way to maintain the appearance and health of your smile, but seeing the dentist regularly is also important. See the best Palo Alto dentists at Blue Turtle Dental to keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright. Getting regular dental checkups and cleanings removes tartar and plaque buildup that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Although it is important to see the dentist when you have a toothache or when you damage one of your teeth, getting regular preventative dental care can keep many of these issues from developing. At Blue Turtle Dental, our Palo Alto dentists provide preventative care services to maintain the health and appearance of smiles for the whole family.

Located in Palo Alto, California, Blue Turtle Dental is led by our highly qualified Palo Alto dentists Dr Alex Yen & Dr Munnazah Hussain. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out how preventative dental care can help preserve your pearly whites.

How often should I schedule my dental checkups?

The American Dental Association recommends a minimum of two dental checkups a year to professionally clean your teeth and to also catch any tooth or gum concerns early on. Visiting the dentist twice a year can:

• Prevent extensive dental treatment or surgery later on and save money
• Remove plaque and buildup that cannot always be targeted with brushing and flossing alone
• Give you a better idea of the overall health of your teeth, as many dental conditions are painless at first

What can I expect during my first visit?

During your initial visit with our dentists, the conditions of your teeth and gums will be evaluated and a customized treatment plan will be created for you. Contact Blue Turtle Dental today to schedule a consultation and find out more about how preventative dental care can maintain the longevity of smiles for the whole family. In general, you can expect a dental exam and dental cleaning to remove built-up plaque and tartar which can lead to periodontal diseases, cavities, bad breath and other problems, if left untreated. Usually performed by the dentist or a dental hygienist, dental exam and cleaning also include polishing of your teeth and instructions on good dental hygiene.

During your dental checkups, we also perform dental x-rays help us check on your tooth root health and detect decays, if any.

Depending on the condition of your teeth and gums and your age, our dentists may also recommend X-rays to observe other unnoticed problems such as tooth decay, abscesses, jawbone damage etc.

What measures do you have in place to ensure a comfortable dental experience?

In order to give you the best results, we use:

Digital x-rays to get a clear, high-resolution picture of dental concerns that may not be visible to the naked eye, such as issues below the gum line and the development of cavities between the teeth

Fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth and help prevent decay

State-of-the-art technology such as our computer-controlled anesthesia delivery system to optimize results with less pain and anxiety during treatment.