Holding Care
Taking One Step at a Time. The Purpose of Holding Care
At Divine Dental in Lewisville, we understand that not all dental treatments happen at once. Whether you’re dealing with gum disease, tooth decay, or preparing for complex dental work, your treatment may need to happen in phases and that’s where holding care comes in.
Holding care refers to the transitional phase of treatment the time between initial, urgent care and your final, permanent restorations. It’s an essential step in many comprehensive dental plans, helping you heal, stabilize, and prepare for long term success.
What Happens During the Holding Phase?
The goal of holding care is to:
- Manage any active dental disease
- Allow your gums and teeth to heal
- Reinforce good home oral care
- Evaluate your response to treatment
- Plan for the best long term outcomes
This phase sets the stage for more advanced procedures like crowns, implants, bridges, or full mouth reconstruction ensuring your mouth is healthy and stable first.
Key Activities During Holding Care
Here’s what we typically focus on during the holding phase:
1. Controlling Active Disease
We treat issues like:
- Tooth decay (caries)
- Gum inflammation or infection
- Periodontal disease
This prevents the situation from getting worse while we plan your final restorations.
2. Reinforcing Oral Hygiene at Home
We’ll work closely with you to make sure you’re brushing and flossing effectively. Maintaining clean, healthy gums is critical for long term success.
3. Allowing Time for Healing & Re-evaluation
Your mouth needs time to respond to the first phase of treatment. Holding care allows for healing and gives us a chance to reassess your condition before moving forward.
4. Assessing Motivation & Readiness
This phase also gives you, the patient, time to adjust and prepare for future care whether that’s emotionally, financially, or logistically.
Examples of Holding Care in Action
Temporary (Holding) Fillings
If you’re not ready for a crown or permanent filling, we may place a temporary filling to stop decay and protect the tooth.
Gum Disease Control
Patients with periodontal disease often undergo deep cleaning (scaling and root plaining) first. Holding care gives gums time to heal before we evaluate for further treatment like antibiotic therapy, gum irrigation, or surgery.
Complex Restorations in Phases
For full mouth reconstruction, we might address the most urgent issues first (like extractions or infections), then use holding care to stabilize your oral health while planning the next stages.
Why Holding Care Matters
- Prevents further damage while you’re preparing for long-term solutions
- Increases the success rate of complex or expensive treatments
- Gives your body time to heal and your dentist time to plan
- Reduces financial and treatment stress by breaking things into manageable steps
“We’re not just treating teeth we’re treating people. Holding care allows us to meet you where you are and move forward together at the right pace”.
Let’s Plan Your Healthier Smile Together
📍 Divine Dental – Lewisville, TX
Call us today: (469) 240-5590
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