Preventative Dentistry | Haven Dental PDX

Looking for Preventative Dentistry in Portland, Oregon?

If you want to preserve your teeth, avoid unnecessary procedures, and invest in lasting oral health, you’re in the right place. At Haven Dental PDX, we approach prevention with skill, precision, and care—and we’ll meet you wherever you are in your journey.

Call us at 503.287.0072 or schedule online to get started with a team that puts your health, your teeth, and your future first.

Products We Recommend

We vet every product we offer for safety, performance, and long-term benefits. Some of our favorites include:

GC MI Paste – Helps remineralize early decay
High-fluoride toothpaste – For those at elevated cavity risk
Custom night guards – Not over-the-counter; custom-fit to protect your bite and jaw
Nasal sprays and lubricants – For airway-focused patients
Soft toothbrushes, flossers, and tongue scrapers

We never oversell—but we do share tools that genuinely help.

Why Regular Dental Care Matters

By seeing us consistently, we can:

Track wear patterns and catch small cracks or decay early
Clean areas you can’t reach
Monitor restorations and gum health over time
Update your risk assessment and care plan
Prevent small problems from becoming big ones

Our goal isn’t to “watch” problems get worse—it’s to actively help you avoid treatment whenever possible, and only intervene when truly necessary.

The Role of Diet

What you eat (and how often) has a massive impact on tooth preservation.

We work with you to understand:

Hidden sugars and acid in common foods/drinks (including wine, kombucha, dried fruits, juices)
The effects of snacking vs. structured meals
How acidic environments wear down enamel—even without decay
The importance of saliva and hydration in neutralizing acids

We also guide you in choosing mouth-friendly snacks and beverages that support long-term health.

Healthy Dental Habits

Simple habits, done well, go a long way. We help you refine and personalize your daily care routine:

Brush 2x/day with a soft toothbrush
Floss or use interdental brushes daily
Use gentle, high-fluoride toothpaste if recommended
Rinse with water after acidic foods or drinks
Clean your tongue (especially if you mouth breathe)
Consider mouth taping or nasal sprays to encourage nasal breathing during sleep
Use custom night guards if you're a clencher or grinder
Seek tools and strategies that work for neurodivergent patients or those with sensory sensitivities

We’re here to help you build habits that are sustainable and effective.

Our Tools for Tooth Preservation

Here are a few of the tools and treatments we commonly recommend:

Sealants

A safe, thin coating applied to the grooves of molars to prevent bacteria and decay—especially in kids, but also in high-risk adults.

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)

A non-invasive antimicrobial that can arrest early cavities and reduce sensitivity—especially helpful in areas you’re monitoring or hoping to avoid restoring.

Anti-Sensitivity & Remineralizing Agents

We use advanced products like Xarosen, fluoride varnish, and SDF to strengthen enamel, reduce pain, and protect root surfaces in patients with dry mouth, acid erosion, or gum recession.

Dental Night Guard

A custom-made oral appliance worn at night to protect teeth from clenching, grinding (bruxism), and destructive bite forces. Night guards help preserve enamel, reduce fracture risk, and minimize muscle strain—especially in patients under chronic stress or with TMJ symptoms.

Caries Risk Assessment

Your cavity risk is unique to your diet, saliva, pH, oral hygiene, health history, and habits. We personalize your care based on real data—not just a one-size-fits-all chart.

Airway, Dry Mouth & Breathing

Many patients don’t realize that how you breathe can dramatically affect your oral health.

Chronic mouth breathing, especially during sleep, contributes to:

Dry mouth (xerostomia), which increases your cavity risk
Gum inflammation and poor healing
Tooth wear from open-mouth posturing and poor tongue posture
Disrupted sleep and downstream health effects

We support airway-conscious dentistry by identifying signs of:

Mouth breathing
Narrow palate or high-arched palate
Sleep-disordered breathing
Dry mouth from nighttime breathing or CPAP use

We may suggest:

Nasal sprays or rinses to reduce congestion
Mouth taping (under guidance) to encourage nasal breathing
Collaboration with ENTs, sleep physicians, or myofunctional therapists
Night guards and/or oral appliances where needed

Your airway is your lifeline. Protecting it helps us protect your teeth, too.

Preventative Dentistry: Your Best Investment

Preventative care is proactive care. It’s about identifying risk, tracking changes, and making early, minimally invasive choices to protect your health and your smile.

This includes:

Thoughtful dental cleanings tailored to your needs
Evaluating risk factors like acid, grinding, and mouth breathing
Using minimally invasive materials when restorations are necessary
Helping you build daily habits that protect—not just patch—your teeth

We treat your teeth like the irreplaceable structures they are.

The Life Cycle of a Tooth

Every tooth has a story. Once it’s drilled on, it enters a restorative cycle that may escalate over time:

1. Filling → 2. Crown → 3. Root Canal → 4. Post/Core → 5. Extraction → 6. Implant or Prosthetic

Each step involves further removal of natural structure. This is why conservative dentistry and early prevention are so powerful. Our goal is to minimize interventions and extend the life of your natural teeth.

I Want to Preserve My Teeth and Smile...

At Haven Dental PDX, we know that most people want to keep their natural teeth for life. Our mission is to help you do just that—through skilled preventative care, education, and a deep respect for the biology of your mouth.

Preservation is more than cleanings and fillings. It’s about understanding the lifecycle of a tooth, the factors that wear it down, and the steps we can take—together—to protect it for the long haul.