Individual, risk-oriented prevention

Modern diagnostics allow the dentist to detect risks of disease of the teeth and gums in good time and to provide treatment tailored to each individual patient

What matters, of course, is the current state of teeth and gums: the oral hygiene assessment. It contains all the details needed to determine the risk of diseases such as caries or periodontitis. That also includes information on brushing habits at home and on further risk factors: a weakened immune system, illnesses such as diabetes mellitus or smoking can all have a markedly negative effect on the health of teeth and gums

Various tests can establish the composition of the saliva and the presence of harmful germs and bacteria. The more of these deposit-forming bacteria there are in the mouth, the more plaque settles on the teeth and between them. By staining the teeth with a particular liquid, the deposits can be made visible and the so-called plaque index calculated as a further risk factor

Clear signs of caries, such as damaged enamel showing distinct white spots at those points, or holes in the teeth, call for immediate action. Protruding edges or defective fillings also have to be dealt with. Such niches are ideal hiding places for bacteria and germs, which can easily settle and multiply there

SCAN – the individual health plan

The SCAN prevention programme offers a personal health plan aimed at detecting risks in good time, reducing them and keeping teeth and gums healthy in the long term. You can recognise individual, risk-oriented prevention by the following steps of a treatment, which usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes:

• Determining the individual risk of caries and periodontitis
• Analysis of the supporting structures of the teeth
• Assessment of the condition of the gums
• Assessment of the quantity and quality of deposits
• Tongue cleaning to reduce germs and prevent bad breath
• Caries check without exposure to X-rays
• Mouth rinse to reduce germs
• Understandable information on the state of oral health
• Gentle, thorough tooth cleaning using non-abrasive methods
• Objective information and advice on possible further steps of treatment
• Documentation of the current condition, printed out for the patient

With the SCAN prevention plan, the individual risk of periodontitis and caries is determined. On that basis, specially trained staff carry out the appropriate preventive measures and set the right, sensible intervals at which professional tooth cleaning and other supporting measures should be scheduled to ensure the best possible protection