Dr. Debra Higham, DMD

Dr. Debra Higham, DMD is a Preventive Dentistry practitioner dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive preventative dental care. She practices at her Jupiter, FL clinic, and is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine, practicing under Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). General Preventive Dentistry serves as your primary partner in lifelong oral health, creating personalized plans to prevent cavities and gum disease, coordinating necessary screenings, and managing your overall wellness to ensure optimal oral and systemic health. She welcomes all ages to begin their proactive health journey and encourages you to call (561) 746-8095 to schedule.

Dr. Debra Higham, DMD is a dentistry practitioner in Jupiter, FL with over 35 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in 1986 and is affiliated with Jupiter Medical Center. With this wealth of dedicated experience in preventative dental care, she brings a wealth of clinical knowledge and compassionate care to her patients and their families. Dr. Debra DMD's comprehensive dental care practice focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry, ensuring a comfortable and well-cared-for experience for all patients. We strive to provide the best dental care in Jupiter, fostering ongoing relationships with you and your family to achieve a lifetime of healthy smiles. She is accepting new patients and offers consultations in Spanish.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Debra DMD is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Debra DMD can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Debra DMD provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Cavity: Maintaining good oral hygiene significantly reduces your risk of developing cavities, protecting your smile and contributing to your overall well-being.
• Halitosis: Halitosis, or bad breath, can be a sign of underlying oral health issues like gum disease or cavities, so addressing it early helps prevent more serious problems.
• Traumatic Dental Injuries: Preventing traumatic dental injuries is crucial for maintaining long-term oral health and avoiding costly and painful restorative procedures later.
• Dental Crowding: Dental crowding, where teeth are too tightly packed, increases your risk of cavities and gum disease if not addressed early, highlighting the importance of regular checkups.
• Tooth Avulsion: Knowing how to handle a knocked-out tooth and seeking immediate dental care can prevent infection, bone loss, and the need for more extensive dental procedures later.
• Gum Disease: Protecting your gums from disease involves practicing good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleanings to reduce your risk of gum problems.
• Misshapen Teeth: Addressing misshapen teeth early can prevent future problems like difficulty chewing, jaw pain, or increased risk of tooth decay in hard-to-clean areas.
• Mouth Lesions: Preventing the development of serious oral health problems, including infections or cancer, begins with promptly addressing any mouth lesions your dentist may identify.
• Dental Disorders: Regular dental checkups are crucial for early detection and management of dental disorders, allowing for timely intervention to prevent further damage and improve long-term oral health.
• Loose Teeth: Don't ignore loose teeth – they indicate a problem that, if left untreated, can lead to infections, further tooth loss, and even impact your overall health.
• Periodontitis: Preventing periodontitis involves regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene to stop the gum inflammation before it progresses to irreversible damage.
• Tooth Abrasion: By understanding the risk factors for tooth abrasion, like aggressive brushing or teeth grinding, you can take proactive steps to protect your enamel, reducing the chances of needing restorative treatments later on.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Debra DMD offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Fluoride Varnish: As part of your commitment to overall wellness, fluoride varnish offers a powerful preventative measure against tooth decay, contributing to a healthier, brighter smile.
• Simple Tooth Extractions: A simple tooth extraction proactively removes a damaged tooth to prevent infection and maintain the health of your surrounding teeth.
• Nitrous Oxide Sedation: Nitrous oxide sedation helps create a calm environment for comprehensive dental exams, improving the chances of early detection and prevention of cavities, gum disease, and other oral health concerns.
• Digital Tomography: Ensure you get the most effective dental care with digital tomography. This advanced imaging helps your dentist identify even minor issues that may be missed with traditional x-rays, enabling early intervention and prevention of more serious problems.
• Panoramic and Cephalometric Digital Dental X-Rays: Protect yourself from potential oral health problems with panoramic and cephalometric digital X-rays. These images give us a detailed look at your entire mouth, helping to identify and treat issues before they become serious.
• Dental Hygiene Services: Protect your oral health and overall well-being with professional dental hygiene services, which help identify potential issues early and prevent more serious problems.
• Porcelain Dental Inlays: By choosing porcelain inlays, you're investing in the long-term health of your teeth, preventing further decay and maintaining a healthy, beautiful smile.
• Same-Day Dental Crowns: Invest in your long-term oral health with same-day dental crowns, a quick and effective method to repair damaged teeth and help prevent more extensive dental work down the line.
• Porcelain Fixed Bridges: A porcelain fixed bridge is a permanent solution to replace missing teeth, improving your smile and preventing further dental problems like shifting teeth or jawbone loss.
• Denture Repair: Don't let broken dentures compromise your chewing and speaking abilities – repair ensures optimal oral function and overall quality of life.
• Dental Bridge: Protect your overall oral health and prevent further complications by choosing a dental bridge to fill the gaps where you're missing teeth.
• Pediatric Dental Exam: Proactively safeguard your child's oral health with a pediatric dental exam; it's a vital step in detecting cavities, gum disease, and other potential concerns.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Preventive Dentistry Services in Florida.

Dr. Debra DMD is dedicated to partnering with Dental Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• By diligently following a preventive oral hygiene routine, a family significantly reduced their risk of cavities, ensuring a healthy and confident smile for years to come.
• By scheduling regular checkups and practicing excellent oral hygiene, a patient significantly reduced their risk of halitosis, gaining confidence in their overall well-being. This proactive approach helped prevent more serious oral health problems from developing.
• By proactively addressing potential risk factors, a family felt confident in their ability to prevent traumatic dental injuries and safeguard their smiles for years to come. Regular checkups and protective measures provided peace of mind and ensured a healthier, more resilient oral environment.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Preventive Dental care with Dr. Debra DMD:

How often should I visit the dentist for a check-up and cleaning?

Dr. Debra DMD recommends visiting every six months for a check-up and cleaning. This allows us to remove tartar buildup, detect cavities early, and screen for gum disease and oral cancer, crucial for maintaining optimal oral health.

Why are routine dental cleanings so important for prevention?

Even with meticulous brushing and flossing, plaque hardens into tartar that only a professional cleaning can remove. This is crucial for preventing cavities and, significantly, gum disease, which has links to other health problems like heart disease.

How is oral health connected to my overall health?

Oral health is intricately linked to overall health. Chronic gum inflammation, or periodontitis, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and poorly controlled diabetes. Preventive dental care is essential for maintaining optimal body health.

What are dental sealants, and who should get them?

Dental sealants are a thin, protective plastic coating applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth. They are a powerful preventive tool, primarily for children and teenagers, that seal out food and plaque to prevent cavities from forming in the deep grooves of the teeth.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are the modern gold standard for replacing missing teeth. They are titanium posts that act like artificial tooth roots, which are then topped with a natural-looking crown. This helps prevent bone loss and preserves the health of adjacent teeth.

What causes tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by worn enamel, receding gums exposing the tooth root, or tiny cracks in the teeth. A proper diagnosis by Dr. Debra DMD is needed to determine the specific cause and recommend effective treatments, such as desensitizing toothpaste or in-office procedures.

Are dental X-rays safe, and why do I need them?

Yes, modern digital dental X-rays are very safe, using extremely low levels of radiation. They allow Dr. Debra to see issues like cavities, bone loss, and impacted teeth that aren't visible otherwise, enabling early intervention and better treatment outcomes.

Do you perform oral cancer screenings?

Yes, an oral cancer screening is a routine and important part of every dental check-up. Dr. Debra will visually inspect the lips, tongue, gums, and entire mouth for any abnormalities, as early detection is key to successful treatment.

500 Maplewood Dr Ste B1
Jupiter FL 33458
Phone: (561) 746-8095

Dr. Debra Higham, DMD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1982747655

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Preventive Dentistry Services like Dr. Debra DMD are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your preventive dentistry about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.