“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

That old saying is as true now as it’s ever been, especially when it comes to dentistry. It’s better to prevent a dental problem than to fix the problem after it crops up. A proactive approach to dentistry does just that – it prevents problems from happening in the first place, or identifies problems and corrects them early on. A reactive approach to dentistry, on the other hand, is only concerned with fixing problems that have gotten out of control.

Compared to dentistry that only reacts to problems to put out fires, proactive dentistry delivers better results and saves time and money in the long run. In this article, I’m diving into the proactive approach and its benefits.

Why a proactive approach is necessary

Think of your mouth and teeth like a house. Your house looks great the day it’s built and it will continue to look great – as long as you take care of it. That means you have to wash the windows and siding regularly, repaint from time to time, get a new roof every 20 years or so, and perhaps even occasionally repair damage from a major disaster like a hurricane or tornado.

What happens if you don’t do any of these things? Your house will fall into decay over time. It will become filthy, the paint will start peeling, the roof will start to fall apart, and it will lose its structural integrity as it ages.

It’s the exact same thing with your teeth. You have to be proactive and take care of your teeth or they will decay over time. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

Why proactive dentistry is good for your health

Preserves your natural teeth. What dentists want most for their patients is for them to grow old with as many of their natural teeth as possible. Preserving the natural tooth structure of the majority of the teeth is only possible when they’ve been taken care of, otherwise teeth may be lost naturally through decay or have to be extracted due to necessity. Decay can be prevented or stopped in its tracks early with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist. When decay has progressed too far, however, that’s when fillings, crowns, root canals, and extractions may become necessary.

Prevents or lessens pain and disease. Toothache, gum disease, and TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder, or disorder of the jaw joint) can all result from neglected oral health. A proactive approach to dentistry would either prevent decay and disease from developing in the first place through good oral habits, or take action at the first sign of trouble in order to stop the problem before it progresses.

Maintains appearance and function. Teeth in optimal health are not just structurally sound and free of decay but also work together in harmony when it comes to function, including chewing, biting, and speaking. With a proactive approach, issues with alignment, bite, and function can be addressed and fixed early before they lead to other problems.  

How proactive dentistry saves time and money

The average cost of a dental cleaning with a hygienist is $125, while the average cost of a root canal is around $900.

The average cost of a toothbrush and a tube of fluoride toothpaste is $3, while the average cost of a surgical tooth extraction is around $400.

The average cost of a container of floss is $1.50, while the average cost of a small gum graft is around $900.

Get the picture?

By spending smaller amounts of money throughout the year on preventative care such as visits to the hygienist and dentist, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and floss, you can keep your teeth in a healthy state so you don’t ever need to spend large amounts on root canals, crowns, extractions, gum grafts, and other more expensive, more invasive procedures.

In addition to being more expensive, these procedures are often more time consuming as well in terms of treatment and recovery time. If the condition of the teeth is too far gone, it may take several sessions to get the mouth back to a healthy state.

Unfortunately, many people who take a reactive approach to dentistry only go to the dentist after a tooth falls out or once they feel pain, by which time the only course of treatment is expensive and time-consuming (not to mention potentially more painful).

Take a proactive approach

Proactive dentistry is about mindset more than anything. It involves taking charge of your oral health and working with your dentist to make sure you’re doing everything you can to maintain the health of your teeth over time.

Maybe you’ve fallen into a rut of reactive dentistry and haven’t been to the dentist in a long time. If so, it’s time for a change. Remember that nothing will get better through inaction. So take charge of your dental health and call to schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

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