Yes, at the doses used in dental treatment. It has been studied for decades and it is one of the most established preventive measures in medicine.

Are sealants only for children?

No. Adults with deep grooves in their back teeth and no decay in them are good candidates too. Whether they will help you depends on the shape of your teeth, which we can see at your exam.

Do I get an oral cancer screening automatically?

Yes. It is part of every exam here, and you do not have to ask for it.

Preventive Care

Preventive Dental Care in Kearny Mesa

The cheapest dentistry you will ever have.

Call (858) 256-4838 Text (858) 256-4838

At a glance

What it is: Fluoride, sealants and oral cancer screening, alongside regular exams and cleanings.
Where: Kearny Mesa Smile Center, 8018 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111.
When: Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Included in every exam: Oral cancer screening.

Everything ExpensiveStarted Small

Every crown was once a filling. Every root canal was once a cavity that could have been caught. Every extraction was once a tooth somebody could still have saved.

Preventive care is not an upsell on top of a cleaning. It is the part that decides whether you are back here in five years for maintenance or for repair.

What Preventive Care Includes

Fluoride. Fluoride strengthens enamel and makes it harder for decay to get started. It is quick, it is applied at the end of a cleaning, and it matters more if you have had cavities before, if you have gum recession, or if you have dry mouth from medication.

Sealants. The chewing surfaces of back teeth have deep grooves that a toothbrush bristle is physically too wide to reach into. A sealant fills those grooves with a thin protective coating so bacteria cannot set up in them.

Oral cancer screening. Part of every exam here. Dr. Cortes checks your tongue, the floor of your mouth, your cheeks, your throat and the lymph nodes in your neck. Found early, oral cancer is very often treatable. Found late, it is a different conversation, and most people who find it early find it at a routine dental visit.

Who Benefits Most

Everybody benefits from prevention, but some people benefit disproportionately. If you have had several cavities, if your gums have receded, if you take medication that dries your mouth, or if you grind your teeth, the case for prevention is stronger and we will say so directly.