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| Prevention - Active Intervention |
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 | Prevention is based on risk and risk factors. This is treatment before disease is observed. Repair of the effects of disease rarely results in a condition as good as the original health state. Preventing disease eliminates tooth loss and reparative treatment. | |  Fluoride
Medicated oral rinses
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| Communication |
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 | Dental treatment cannot keep you healthy. Your participation is very important. The most common patient behaviors that influence health and treatment success are oral hygiene, nutrition, and smoking. You may receive advice, including resources for you to change to health-promoting behaviors. | | Oral hygiene Instruction
Nutritional Counseling
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| Visit the Dentist |
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 | Symptoms are warning signs that frequently appear too late in the disease process for the simplest, most predictable, least costly treatment. Regular visits to detect disease in the early stages can prevent more complex and expensive treatment. Better still are regular visits for preventive care targeted to your risk factors. |
 Four or more times per year
Three times per year
 Two times per year |
| Generally most effective | May be effective | Less likely to be effective
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