Preventative Dentistry

Preventative Dentistry

Prevention is more than just a cleaning

Most people think preventive dentistry means brushing, flossing, and getting a cleaning every six months. Those things matter. But true prevention goes much deeper. Modern dentistry allows us to identify risk factors, harmful bacteria, early decay, inflammation, tooth wear, gum disease, and structural weakness before major destruction occurs. Instead of waiting for disease to happen, we focus on identifying what may lead to future problems and intervening earlier when treatment can be more conservative and less invasive.

Treating cavities before you need a filling

One of the biggest advancements in modern dentistry is the ability to treat very early cavities before drilling becomes necessary. Historically, once decay was identified, the only solution was to drill the tooth and place a filling. But every time a tooth is drilled, some healthy tooth structure is permanently removed. At Forever Smiles, we believe if a problem can be treated earlier and more conservatively, that is often the better approach.

Curodont™ – Stopping early decay before it becomes a cavity

When cavities are caught early, and before major structural breakdown occurs, we may recommend Curodont™, a non-invasive treatment designed to help remineralize and stabilize early enamel lesions. Rather than waiting for a tooth to break down enough to require drilling and filling, Curodont helps support natural enamel repair and slow or stop disease progression. Clinical studies have shown that when appropriately used on early lesions, teeth treated with Curodont had up to a 93% chance of avoiding progression into a cavitated lesion requiring traditional restorative treatment. This is a major shift in philosophy. Instead of waiting for a cavity to form, we aim to stop it before drilling is necessary.

ICON® Resin Infiltration

For very early decay or white spot lesions, we may recommend ICON® treatment, a minimally invasive technique that can help stop decay progression without traditional drilling. ICON can also improve the appearance of white spot lesions, helping teeth look healthier while preserving natural enamel. The earlier problems are found, the more conservative treatment can often be.

Caries risk assessment: Predicting future cavities

At Forever Smiles, we strongly believe every patient should receive a caries (cavity) risk assessment. If a dental office is not assessing cavity risk, they are missing one of the most important predictors of future oral health. A cavity risk assessment helps us determine how likely you are to develop future cavities. Using an exam, clinical findings, and a health questionnaire, we evaluate factors such as current cavity history, existing dental work, diet and sugar exposure, dry mouth or reduced saliva, medications affecting oral health, bacterial risk factors, and home care habits. Patients are generally categorized as low, moderate, high, and extreme risk.

Treating the cause of cavities and not just the symptoms

Historically, dentistry often followed this cycle: Cavity → Drill → Fill → Repeat. At Forever Smiles, we ask a different question: why is the cavity happening in the first place? If someone continues getting cavities, the goal should not simply be doing more fillings. The goal should be changing the environment causing the disease.

Carifree® System: Advanced cavity prevention

We have extensively researched prevention systems and believe the Carifree® system is one of the most effective tools available for cavity prevention and oral health optimization. The system is designed to reduce cavity-causing bacteria, improve oral pH balance, support healthier oral bacterial environments, improve dry mouth conditions, and reduce risk of future decay. Depending on your needs, recommendations may include therapeutic rinses, specialized toothpaste, dry mouth sprays, xylitol-based lozenges, or customized home prevention protocols.

Oral probiotics and microbiome health

The mouth is home to billions of bacteria. Some bacteria support health, while others contribute to gum disease, cavities, and inflammation. We may recommend oral probiotics, such as BioGaia®, to help support a healthier bacterial balance and create an oral environment that is naturally more resistant to disease.

Gum disease prevention: Bleeding gums are not normal

Many people believe bleeding gums are normal. They are not. Healthy gums do not bleed. Bleeding is inflammation, and inflammation is often an early warning sign of gingivitis or periodontal disease. At Forever Smiles, we perform periodontal screening and assessment at routine appointments to identify areas of inflammation before they become destructive. We look for bleeding gums, pocketing around teeth, areas of bacterial buildup, early gum disease,  and areas requiring preventive treatment.

Perio Protect® trays

For patients with gingivitis, deeper pockets, or elevated periodontal risk, we may recommend Perio Protect® trays. These custom trays are designed to deliver oxygenating medication deeper into periodontal pockets, or the places traditional brushing and flossing cannot effectively reach. This helps create an environment less favorable to harmful periodontal pathogens while supporting healthier gum tissue.

Fluoride varnish: Simple, powerful prevention

We routinely recommend fluoride varnish for many patients as part of a prevention-focused strategy. Fluoride varnish helps strengthen enamel, reduce sensitivity, support remineralization, and reduce cavity risk. Research has shown fluoride varnish can reduce cavity risk by approximately 30%, making it one of the simplest and most effective preventive treatments available. Sometimes small interventions make a major difference.

Custom cavity prevention programs

No two patients have the same risk factors. Some people naturally have very low cavity risk. Others struggle with frequent cavities, dry mouth, acid erosion, gum disease, medical conditions affecting saliva, and high bacterial risk. That is why we create personalized prevention programs based on your individual needs. In some situations, this may include custom cavity prevention trays, salivary bacterial testing, therapeutic products, oral probiotics, dry mouth therapies, and  advanced home-care systems.

Conservative dentistry matters

Every time a tooth is drilled, healthy structure is permanently removed. That is why we believe in early detection, conservative treatment, and long-term preservation. If we see wear, erosion, cracks, early decay, or weakening restorations, our philosophy is not to wait until it becomes catastrophic. Instead, we focus on minimally invasive solutions designed to strengthen and preserve teeth before larger problems occur.

Dentistry designed for a lifetime

At Forever Smiles, we believe your teeth should last your lifetime. You deserve more than “patchwork dentistry.” You deserve a team focused on helping you stay healthy longer, prevent costly problems, keep strong teeth for life, eat comfortably and confidently, and maintain a beautiful, natural smile. Our mission is not simply fixing problems after they happen. Our mission is helping prevent them in the first place. Because the best dentistry is often the dentistry you never need.

Flexible Dental Financing & Payment Options

Solutions Designed to Help Make Treatment More Manageable

At Forever Smiles, we require payment at the time of service via cash, check, debit, or credit card. For patients who prefer to explore payment plans, we offer access to third-party financing options such as CareCredit®, Proceed Finance, and Cherry Finance. Some plans may offer promotional financing, including 0% options for those who qualify. Approval and terms are determined by each financing provider.

As a service to our patients, we also handle dental insurance claims on your behalf. Our team works closely with you to help maximize your benefits and ensure claims are submitted accurately and in a timely manner.

Whether it’s your first visit or you’re planning more comprehensive treatment, we’re here to help you understand your options and feel confident in your care. Our goal is to make the entire process as simple, transparent, and stress-free as possible.

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Preventative Dentistry at Forever Smiles — Find Your Location

Forever Smiles operates three dental office locations across Minnesota, each offering the same quality of care.

Forever Smiles Arlington

503 West Main Street, Arlington, MN 55307

(507) 964-2748

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Forever Smiles Chanhassen

600 Market Street Suite 130, Chanhassen, Minnesota 55317

(952) 937-5200

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Forever Smiles Glencoe

2100 11th St E, Glencoe, MN 55336, United States

(320) 864-3129

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