Preventative Dentistry

Routine Visits

The longstanding tradition of excellence in Family Dentistry is the basis for the professional care exhibited in Dr. Prehn's practice. His goal is to preserve your natural teeth for life while maintaining your oral health at the highest possible level.

Dr. Prehn recommends regular checkups to maintain optimal dental health. Good dental health will benefit you throughout your lifetime.

Pediatric Dentistry

Children should start to see Dr. Prehn by the age of three. By starting young, this helps reduce improper fears of dentistry. Children (and adults) appreciate the ceiling attached television sets for viewing during their visit. Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is also available for patient comfort.

We encourage the parents to bring their child with them when mom or dad are having their teeth cleaned. This way, they can get a feel for the office. They can get a "ride" in the chair and a new toothbrush.

Fluoride For Decay

Fluoride is an effective means of preventing decay from prenatal stages through adult and is supplied in a variety of forms including:

• Applied to your teeth during routine dental exams/cleaning
• Drinking water where fluoride has been added
• Prescribed nutritional supplements
• Commercially prepared mouth rinses and toothpastes
• Prescription strength at-home fluorides.

Fluoride For Sensitivity

A tooth colored varnish applied to the teeth with a brush after a cleaning appointment. It provides the highest fluoride concentration available - 22,600 parts per million. Advantage to the varnish is that as a patient, you are able to eat and drink right after application &mdash no waiting 30 minutes as with a tray or rinse application. It also can provide relief for sensitive teeth.

Sealants

Sealants are an acrylic-like material that helps shield decay-causing bacteria from the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. It is recommended that sealants be applied to a child's permanent molars and premolars. It is best to apply sealants as soon as possible after the six-year molars (the first permanent back teeth) appear. As a child's most cavity-prone years continue until the mid-teens, the other teeth should also be sealed if indicated.

Theramints

TheraMints is a 100% xylitol sweetened mint. Xylitol is an all natural sweetener. Sugar is not used in the mints, so it can be used by everybody without the fear of getting cavities as so many other mints and drops can do that contain sugar. TheraMints are extremely beneficial for patients that have dry mouth because the mints will stimulate salvia flow which can reduce the chance for cavities. TheraMints can fight bad breath and also promotes a neutral pH in the mouth, which again can help fight the chance for a cavity.

SootheRx Therapy

SootheRx is a toothpaste that will provide rapid and continual relief for sensitive teeth. It contains Novamin, a material that can induce the formation of new hydroxyapatite, which is almost identical to the tooth mineral that is naturally replenished by saliva. The treatment consists of using SootheRx 2 times a day for 2 weeks in place of your regular toothpaste. After that, it is to be used 1 time a week to maintain relief from sensitivity. You can go back to using your regular toothpaste after the initial 2 week period.

PerioMed Rinse

PerioMed is a stannous fluoride rinse that is antimicrobial, promotes remineralization of tooth structure and increases tooth resistance to acid attacks in the mouth from things like soda. It will relieve tooth sensitivity, reduce gingival inflammation (gingivitis), inhibit plaque build-up and decrease risk of cavities.

Sports Safety

While mouthguards purchased at a retail store do help to protect teeth, they are not as effective as Athletic Mouthguards made to custom fit your teeth. Hard plastic and rubber mouthguards help prevent injury while your favorite sport. Dr. Prehn recommends that everyone wear mouthguards while playing contact sports.