Dr. Giovanna Santeli Heiden, DDS

Dr. Giovanna Santeli Heiden, DDS is a Preventive Dentistry practitioner dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive preventative dental care. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, she practices at her clinic in Gainesville, FL, and is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine, practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). Her commitment is to personalized plans that prevent cavities and gum disease, coordinating necessary screenings, and managing overall wellness to ensure optimal oral and systemic health. She is dedicated to building a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health, employing collaborative, evidence-based approaches.

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. Dr. Giovanna DDS's practice focuses on prevention, and she serves all ages. Patients should call (352) 273-7957 to confirm if she is currently accepting new patients. Dr. Giovanna Santeli Heiden, DDS is a dentistry practitioner in Gainesville, FL, and provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Giovanna DDS 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. Giovanna DDS 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. Giovanna DDS 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:

• Tooth Loss: Tooth loss can be a sign of underlying gum disease or decay, so proactive dental care is crucial for prevention.
• Chipped Tooth: Addressing a chipped tooth promptly minimizes the chance of the chip worsening, possibly leading to a more complex and costly repair later on.
• Ectopic Eruption: To maintain optimal oral health, it's important to address ectopic eruptions promptly, as they can lead to misaligned teeth, impacting chewing and increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.
• Narrow Oral Fissure - Short Stature - Cone - Shaped Epiphyses: Regular dental check-ups are crucial as narrow oral fissures, along with short stature and cone-shaped epiphyses, could point towards a systemic condition needing early diagnosis and management to prevent long-term health problems.
• Congenital Nasal Deformity: Addressing a congenital nasal deformity early can prevent later difficulties in orthodontic treatment or other dental procedures related to facial structure.
• Receding Gums: Early detection of receding gums is crucial; addressing this issue early helps prevent tooth loss and potential systemic health problems.
• Anodontia: Anodontia is the absence of one or more teeth, which, if identified early, can be managed with strategies like dentures or implants to prevent further oral health complications and improve your quality of life.

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. Giovanna DDS offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy: Take a proactive step towards better gum health with Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy; this innovative treatment helps detect and address periodontal issues early, reducing the need for more extensive procedures.
• Root Planing: Take control of your oral health with root planing—a procedure that addresses gum disease early on, preventing the need for more extensive treatments in the future and supporting overall health.
• Partial Dentures: Partial dentures are a proactive solution to replace missing teeth, improving chewing, speech, and preventing further tooth loss.
• Teeth Whitening: Teeth whitening can reveal underlying dental issues early, allowing for prompt treatment and prevention of more significant problems.
• Dental Implant: Investing in a dental implant is a proactive step in preserving your facial structure and preventing the common issues related to missing teeth.
• Tooth-Conserving Dentistry: Investing in tooth-conserving dentistry means making a smart choice for your long-term oral health, helping prevent future problems and reducing the need for extensive dental work.
• Gold Dental Inlays: Gold dental inlays are a durable way to restore damaged teeth, protecting them from further decay and preventing the need for larger, more invasive procedures.

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. Giovanna DDS 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 attending regular checkups and following a personalized oral hygiene plan, a family significantly reduced their risk of tooth loss, ensuring a healthy, confident smile for years to come.
• By addressing a small chipped tooth early, a patient avoided the need for a more extensive and expensive dental procedure, maintaining a healthy and confident smile.
• By proactively addressing potential ectopic eruption issues, a young patient avoided the need for complex orthodontic treatment later on, maintaining a healthy, well-aligned smile.

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. Giovanna DDS:

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

At Dr. Giovanna DDS, we recommend seeing a dentist and dental hygienist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. This helps remove tartar buildup that brushing can't, catch cavities early, and screen for gum disease and oral cancer.

Why are routine dental cleanings so important for prevention?

Even with excellent brushing and flossing, plaque hardens into tartar that only a professional cleaning can remove. This is crucial for preventing cavities and, more importantly, gum disease, which has been linked to other health problems, including heart disease.

How is oral health connected to my overall health?

Your oral health is closely linked to your overall well-being. Chronic gum inflammation (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.

Can you help with snoring or sleep apnea?

Dr. Giovanna DDS can help with some cases of snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. For eligible patients, we offer custom-fitted oral appliances worn at night to keep the airway open, providing a comfortable alternative to CPAP.

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

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

Do you perform oral cancer screenings?

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

When should my child first see a dentist?

Dr. Giovanna DDS recommends a child's first dental visit within six months of their first tooth erupting, or by their first birthday. This early visit is crucial for ensuring proper tooth development and establishing a positive dental home for future care.

What is a root canal and why is it needed?

A root canal is a procedure to save a badly infected or damaged tooth. It involves removing the inflamed pulp, cleaning the inside of the tooth, and sealing it. This treatment relieves pain and prevents the need for tooth extraction. Dr. Giovanna DDS is skilled in performing root canals comfortably.

1395 Center Dr
Gainesville FL 32610
Phone: (352) 273-7957

Dr. Giovanna Santeli Heiden, DDS 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): 1942048236

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. Giovanna DDS 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.