Top tips for preventative dentistry in primary care

ntroductionStabilisation of primary disease is a key pillar of successful treatment in the provision of dental care.As well as managing periodontal disease, managing caries is a crucial component of a successful treatment plan.Treatment plans are often divided into the following phases. Phased treatment1. Emergency treatment 2. Elimination of active disease to achieve oral stability 3. Rehabilitation/Reconstruction phase 4. Maintenance/Monitoring phase.Whilst the focus is often on phases 1 and 3, achieving oral stability is the foundation of future success.Often in the rush to progress to phase 3, not enough time is spent on phase 2 given the time pressures in busy practices.However, if we do not relay the appropriate preventative messages to our patients, treatment carried out in phase 3 will inevitably fail.In this short article we discuss some of our experiential tips for preventative care in primary care.