LESSON 1
PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY
Section I. INTRODUCTION
1-1.
GENERAL
a. The Concept of Prevention. What is preventive dentistry? It is a philosophy
of oral health care that embraces all phases of dentistry. It includes not only the
prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases through the use of proper diet,
home care, and regular dental examinations, but it also includes proper restoration and
replacement of teeth, root canal treatment, orthodontic braces, and even the surgical
removal of teeth to prevent the spread of infection. Also of great importance in
preventive dentistry is the discovery of other oral diseases, such as cancer, through soft
tissue examinations. The profession of dentistry, as much or more than any other,
stresses prevention in a total oral health fitness program. Following guidelines from the
dental profession, most people can expect to keep their teeth a lifetime, thus minimizing
the need for dental treatment.
b. Need Assessment. The need for preventive dentistry is readily evident.
With the introduction of a more refined diet, modern man has become more susceptible
to dental disease. Data indicates that at least 95 percent of all Americans suffer from
dental cavities sometime during their lives. Another 90 percent of all Americans over
the age of 35 suffer from some type of periodontal (gum) disease. Approximately
30,800 new cases of oral cancer occur each year. It is estimated that 52 percent of
people with oral cancer survive five years after diagnosis. Around 8,100 people died
from oral cancer in 1991.
c. Solutions Available. The dental profession has the knowledge and
techniques available today to prevent 90 to 95 percent of all dental decay and
periodontal disease. The increase in water fluoridation, topical fluorides, improved
restorative materials, advanced surgical and orthodontic techniques, the use of pit and
fissure sealants, and an increased public education program has made these advances
possible.
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