Protecting Your Teeth From The Very Start
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatment is particularly beneficial for children. As their adult teeth emerge, these treatments actively combat tooth decay through a process known as remineralization. Plaque acids and food consumption can erode tooth enamel by depleting essential minerals. Fluoride treatment intervenes, halting and reversing this progression, thereby fortifying tooth enamel and enhancing its resilience against decay.
Dental Sealants
The chewing surfaces of molars have numerous grooves and crevices that easily trap acidic plaque or food particles, making them difficult to clean. When children’s new molars come in, dental sealants provide a practical solution by creating a barrier that prevents debris accumulation. This safeguard protects their natural teeth and helps prevent decay, effectively shielding these vulnerable areas.
Why Opt for Sealants and Fluoride?
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) supports the appropriate and selective use of sealants for both primary and permanent teeth, based on a risk assessment and diagnosis by a dentist. According to the CDA, sealants are an essential component of a comprehensive preventive program, which includes nutritional counseling, optimal fluoride exposure, good oral hygiene, and regular dental examinations.
Reduce Tooth Sensitivity
The enamel is the outermost layer of a tooth. Beneath the enamel, a tooth comprises dentin, pulp, and nerve. Dentin supports the tooth structure but cannot protect the nerve from hot, cold, acidic, or sticky foods. If the enamel becomes thin and worn, teeth will become sensitive. Fluoride and sealants help maintain enamel, ensuring it continues to protect your sensitive dentin from external elements.
Prevent and Reverse Decay
Worn enamel can continue to decay until a cavity forms. In addition to causing tooth sensitivity, exposed dentin carries the risk of infection, which can be extremely painful and may require a root canal to save the tooth. Rebuilding enamel with fluoride treatment and shielding problem areas from plaque buildup helps prevent decay and strengthens teeth.
Save Money in the Long Run
Prevention now is worth more than a cure tomorrow. Fluoride and sealants are relatively inexpensive treatments that can prevent the need for more costly procedures if tooth decay is allowed to progress.
The Fluoridation and Sealant Process
Fluoride treatments are typically added to your child’s routine teeth cleaning and exam once a year. Sealants are applied as needed, usually after a new molar erupts or if the dentist identifies a problem area on the biting surface of a tooth.
Fluoride Treatment
The fluoride treatment we provide is stronger than over-the-counter products because it is administered by medical professionals in our office. Our most common fluoride treatment is a foam or gel applied using upper and lower trays. The application only takes a few minutes at the end of your teeth cleaning. For maximum benefits, we ask patients to avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes after treatment.
Dental Sealant Application
Applying dental sealants is easy and completely painless. No drilling or freezing is required. The dentist will carefully clean and dry the tooth before applying a mild acidic gel to make the surface slightly rough for a stronger bond. After a few seconds, the gel is rinsed off, the tooth is dried again, and the sealant is pressed into the grooves of the tooth. A special blue light is used to cure the sealant. Once done, your bite should still feel natural and comfortable.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your dentist or hygienist will recommend waiting 30 minutes after fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. This waiting period allows the fluoride to absorb into your tooth enamel and effectively strengthen it.
Did you know that fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral? Small concentrations of fluoride are found in some sources of drinking water. Scientists discovered its benefits when they noticed that people living near fluoridated water sources had less tooth decay. Since then, fluoride has been added to many drinking water supplies and incorporated into routine dental care regimens. Fluoride treatment has been safely preventing dental decay worldwide for generations.
Dental sealant is applied to the biting surfaces of molars, creating a protective shield that guards the vulnerable grooves and fissures of teeth from decay.
Dental sealants can last up to 10 years with proper oral hygiene and regular checkups. Be sure to brush and floss regularly and avoid acidic foods and drinks, especially before bed. If dental sealants become chipped or worn, a dentist or hygienist can easily repair them.
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