Preventive Dentistry focuses on the measures taken by dentists to help prevent dental disease. As prevention is always better than cure, almost every dentist places emphasis on preventative dentistry of some form. However, when a dentist designates themselves as a Preventive Dentist, they will most likely provide extensive information on preventing many dental diseases, such as:
Dental Caries (tooth decay)
Periodontal Disease (gum and tooth disease)
Malocclusion (poor dental bite)
These dental issues are easily preventable. While your General Dentist will emphasize the importance of preventing dental diseases, a dentist that focuses on Preventative Dentistry will typically provide much more information in these areas. This area of dentistry can also come under Public Health Dentistry – a legally defined dental specialization – but Preventive Dentistry is not recognized as a specialist area.