Fine Dentistry and Prevention...
This type of dentistry is dedicated to achieving Optimum Repair of the oral health system. Optimum repair of the natural teeth has as its goal the restoration of teeth to ideal beauty, function, comfort and longevity. A Comprehensive Examination is completed and goal setting is instituted to create a Master Plan that has as its goal maximum protection and preservation of the oral health complex. Crucial to the continuation of Optimum Health are good daily oral hygiene habits and a strict regime of professional examinations and cleanings to prevent decay and gum disease.
Maintenance Dentistry...
The quality of care is good and preventive measures are fairy effective, but the patient is not dedicated to achieving Optimum Repair. Usually maintenance dentistry is intermediate dentistry such as silver and large plastic fillings, which safely last 3 to 10 years. With age, typically late thirties to mid forties, this individual either elects to save their dental health and move into Fine Dentistry and Prevention or slide into the Repair and emergency mode. Unfortunately most people fail to realize that their mouth ages considerably quicker than they do. All too often they have done too little too late, and spend their golden years a dental cripple.
Repair Oriented Practice...
No long term thought is given to either prevention of decay, gum disease or bite (occlusion-related) problems. Teeth are filled as they break and when gums bleed or breath is bad the patients have their teeth cleaned. This represents 70% of the dental practices in America today. It is easy to see why two thirds of American dentists dislike what they do and would if given the chance not choose dentistry as their career again. The interesting thing about the patients who go to these kind of practices is that they don't enjoy it, but have more or less given up or don't know what dentistry can do for them. Tooth loss in the latter years is very common.
Emergency Practice...
Patients are seen only for emergency treatment. The majority of patients in this type of practice lose their teeth, usually by the age of 35 to 50, depending on their heredity.