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Preventive Dentistry
Protect Your Beautiful Smile!

Routine teeth cleanings and checkups protect your dental health and overall well-being.

Preventive Dentistry | Dentist
Prevention Results in Healthy Teeth and Gums
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Preventive Dentistry

A healthy, happy smile you’re proud of is one of your best assets! Preventive dentistry is the cornerstone of our dental practice because it helps us protect your beautiful, healthy smile and dental health. With routine preventive teeth cleanings and checkups every six months, we can identify problematic conditions early before they become more complicated to treat.

Being proactive about your dental health can actually save you time, stress, and money! When our dentists spot problems early on, you can treat them with less invasive and less costly procedures, which is always our goal for our patients.

The Irrefutable Benefits of Preventive Dentistry

Patients often wonder why they need to see their dentist twice per year. Here are some of the advantages excellent dental health provides:

  • Protects your overall health: Periodontal (gum) health is closely linked with other non-dental systemic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
  • Guards against dental emergencies: Treating dental problems early on can help you avoid uncomfortable and costly tooth emergencies.
  • Safeguards your budget: Maintaining dental health means fewer problems arise and less money out of your pocket to treat them.
  • Improves confidence: When you have a healthy and beautiful smile, you can feel comfortable and confident eating the foods you enjoy and sharing your smile with others.

How Periodontal Health and Overall Health Are Linked

Body systems are connected, and science has found clear links between gum health and overall health. When you have gum disease, you are more likely to develop other systemic health concerns, and vice versa, since bacteria-causing inflammation travels through the bloodstream. 

Some of the chronic health issues linked to gum disease are:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Diabetes
  • Dementia
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure

We’ve also seen connections with gum disease and complications during pregnancy, including low birth weight in babies.

Preventive dental care at Thurmont Family Dentistry is one of your best defenses against problems like gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities.

What Happens During Your Preventive Appointment at Thurmont Family Dentistry?

During your preventive dental appointment, you can expect a comfortable teeth cleaning with our hygienist, who will remove the excess plaque buildup from your teeth and discuss the best techniques and products to care for your smile at home.

One of our dentists will provide a thorough exam and screening for problems like gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer and perform an evaluation of your airway, looking for potential obstructions or issues that may lead to reduced or restricted air movement during sleep. All of the issues are best treated as early as possible.

Our team offers a welcoming, friendly, and judgment-free environment where we deliver exceptional dental care. If it’s time for your next teeth cleaning and exam, even if it’s been a while since your last dental visit, we would love to see you!

Contact our Thurmont, MD, dental office at (301) 271-2346.

Highly recommended.

If you’re putting off dental care because of painful visits in the long ago past, I encourage you to make an appointment with Dr. Raymond. If you haven’t had a thorough cleaning in years because of painful past experiences, I encourage you to make an appointment with Taylor. Pain management of today with these professionals is amazing and there is no reason to fear. And attention now sets you up for a healthy future. Highly recommended.
-Zach B.
 

Meet Our Dentist:

Dr. Sarah Raymond

Dr. Sarah Raymond has been a Frederick County resident since 1997. She moved here after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland College Park. She continued her education in Maryland, earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

Dr. Raymond is passionate about making strong connections with her patients, and she truly loves what she does. She's been in the dental field since 1994, starting at the front desk in high school and working as a dental assistant for many years before graduating and ...

Preventive Dentistry Technology

Digital X-Rays

Digital x-rays allow us to safely capture images that give us an internal view of your teeth and mouth and are integral to diagnosing common dental problems like gum disease and tooth decay. 

The images are readily available for review, easily shared with other providers if necessary, and safer for our patients than traditional film x-rays because they emit less radiation. They're also safer for our environment because they don't require chemicals for development. 

Panoramic X-Ray

Panoramic x-rays give us a full view of your teeth in one image. This is particularly useful for looking at wisdom teeth (third molars), planning for orthodontic treatment, identifying cysts, monitoring bone levels, and planning for oral surgeries. 

Our dentists may also recommend taking a panographic x-ray as a baseline and every five years afterward to monitor your dental health. 

Intraoral Camera

Patients truly feel empowered when making decisions about their dental health when they can see what their dentist sees.

Our intraoral camera allows us to share any concerns our dentists see in your mouth in full-color pictures. The pen-sized device fits into your mouth and comfortably captures images we can review together. The result is that you can make educated decisions about the best treatment for your smile. 

 

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