Dr. Sandra Santos, DMD

Dr. Sandra Santos, DMD is a Preventive Dentistry specialist dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive Preventive Dental care. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, she practices at Rivercrest Commons Family Dental in Riverview, FL, and is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine, practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). Her focus on 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 is currently welcoming new patients of all ages to begin their proactive health journey; please call (813) 723-6693 to schedule.

General Preventive Dentistry, as practiced by Dr. Sandra DMD, is a cornerstone of her approach. She believes in helping patients become more aware of how to manage their oral care to improve their overall health and happiness. Her goal is to provide patients with the treatment they deserve, focusing on excellent dental services for her community. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, and having moved to the United States at the age of eleven, Dr. Sandra DMD cherishes quality family time and creating lasting memories. She enjoys dancing to various Latin rhythms, and photography. Her passion for preventive dentistry, combined with her commitment to patient well-being, makes her an invaluable resource for proactive oral health. Dr. Sandra DMD provides consultations primarily in English.

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

• Tooth Discoloration: Early intervention for tooth discoloration can help prevent the need for more extensive and costly treatments down the line, saving you both time and money.
• Cavity: Addressing cavities promptly prevents infections, toothaches, and the potential need for extensive and costly dental procedures.
• Gingivitis: Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease, easily treatable with good oral hygiene, preventing it from progressing to more serious problems.
• Tooth Damage: Protecting your teeth from damage through preventive measures like wearing a mouthguard during sports or avoiding hard candies helps maintain your oral health and overall well-being.
• Tender Gums: Tender gums are a warning sign that needs attention; addressing the issue early can help avoid costly and painful dental treatments later.
• Loose Teeth: Preventing serious dental issues starts with noticing changes like loose teeth. Schedule a visit with your dentist to determine the cause and receive preventive treatment.
• Tooth Loss: Tooth loss can be a sign of underlying gum disease or decay, so proactive dental care is crucial for prevention.
• Toothache: A toothache can be a warning sign of a cavity or infection, highlighting the importance of regular dental checkups for early detection and prevention.
• Tooth Malformation: Malformed teeth can be more prone to chipping, cracking, and decay, making preventive care, including regular cleanings and protective sealants, even more crucial.
• Dental Injury: Managing dental injuries promptly through professional care can reduce the need for extensive restorative work later, protecting your smile and preventing complications.
• Dental Disorders: Addressing dental disorders promptly helps stop minor issues from becoming major health concerns, impacting not only your smile but also your overall well-being.
• Halitosis: Early detection and treatment of the underlying cause of halitosis are crucial for preventing further damage to your teeth and gums.

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

• Amalgam Dental Fillings: By filling cavities with amalgam, we prevent the spread of decay and maintain the structural integrity of your teeth, safeguarding your long-term oral health.
• Cosmetic Procedure: By enhancing your smile with cosmetic procedures, you indirectly promote better oral health through increased self-care and regular visits.
• Dental Cleaning: Invest in your well-being with routine dental cleanings; they're essential for preventing serious oral health issues and promoting good systemic health.
• Dental Crown: A dental crown is a cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its shape, strength, and protect it from further decay, helping you keep your natural smile for longer.
• Dental Hygiene Services: Maintain optimal oral hygiene and prevent costly dental work down the line with routine dental hygiene services—a small investment with huge returns for your smile.
• Dental Implant: A dental implant offers a permanent solution to missing teeth, improving your confidence, enhancing your smile, and helping to prevent future dental problems.
• Root Canal: By addressing severe inflammation and infection within the tooth's root, root canal therapy significantly reduces the risk of painful complications like abscesses and prevents future dental issues.
• Teeth Whitening: Teeth whitening can reveal underlying dental issues early, allowing for prompt treatment and prevention of more significant problems.
• Tooth-Conserving Dentistry: This approach involves careful examinations and minimally invasive treatments to identify and address cavities, gum disease, and other issues before they worsen, saving your teeth.

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. Sandra 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 addressing potential tooth discoloration early, a family proactively managed their oral health, avoiding the need for more extensive procedures and maintaining a confident smile.
• By scheduling regular checkups and cleanings, a family proactively addressed potential cavity issues, ensuring a healthy smile and avoiding future dental problems.
• By attending regular checkups and practicing excellent oral hygiene, a patient successfully prevented gingivitis from developing into a more severe gum disease, ensuring a healthy smile and overall well-being.

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. Sandra DMD:

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

For most people, a visit to Dr. Sandra DMD and our dental hygienists every six months is recommended. This crucial preventive care removes tartar buildup that brushing can't, helps catch cavities early, and screens for gum disease and oral cancer.

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 crucial step prevents cavities and, more importantly, gum disease, which has been linked to other health problems like heart disease.

How is oral health connected to my overall health?

Your oral health is intrinsically linked to your overall well-being. Chronic gum inflammation, or periodontitis, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and poorly controlled diabetes. Regular preventive dental care is essential for maintaining not only a healthy mouth, but also a healthy body.

What are veneers and how are they different from crowns?

Veneers are thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of teeth to improve their appearance. Crowns, on the other hand, are caps that cover the entire tooth to restore its shape, size, and strength after significant damage or decay.

Can you help with snoring or sleep apnea?

While Dr. Sandra DMD is a dentist, not a sleep specialist, she can help some patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. For these patients, she can create a custom-fitted oral appliance to keep the airway open during sleep, offering a comfortable alternative to CPAP. She can also discuss whether or not your condition is appropriate for this type of treatment.

What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?

Gingivitis is an early, reversible stage of gum disease characterized by red, swollen gums that may bleed easily. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more serious stage where the bone supporting the teeth is damaged, potentially leading to tooth loss.

What is TMJ disorder?

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder is a condition affecting the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. Common symptoms include jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds, and headaches. Dr. Sandra DMD can help diagnose the issue and recommend treatments, such as a custom nightguard, to prevent damage from teeth grinding.

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. Sandra DMD is needed to determine the specific cause and recommend effective treatments, such as desensitizing toothpaste or in-office procedures.

Rivercrest Commons Family Dental
11478 US Highway 301 S
Riverview FL 33578
Phone: (813) 723-6693

Dr. Sandra Santos, 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): 1669831004

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. Sandra 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.