Preventive Care is an important part of any dental treatment. To avoid expensive dental treatments in the future, there are many treatment options that can be undertaken. Below you will find common answers to frequently asked questions about various Preventive Care treatment options.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps in preventing tooth decay in both children and adults. It does this by making the outer surface of the teeth, enamel, more resistant to acid attacks that cause tooth decay.
Fluoride is typically ingested through water supplies and is also found in many beverages such as soft drink and bottled water. It is also found in dietary supplements as well as many dental products we use such as toothpaste and mouth rinses. At the dental office, we offer fluoridated varnishes or prescriptions for high fluoride products for individuals at high risk of caries.
Fluoride Varnish
Hi, I’m Doctor Shah. We’re going to talk about fluoride varnish today. Fluoride has been proven for decades in prevention of cavities. In olden days, if you remember, kids go to dentists and dentists or their staff or hygienist were applying a fluoride gel for one minute, or put a tooth in the bubble, fluoride bubbles in their mouth for one minute. They were not very effective because the contact of fluoride with the teeth was shorter, so new research shows, that if you have fluoride in contact with teeth for a longer time, they’re more effective. So, they come up with a different delivery system, which is a fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is very sticky. So, it mixes with the fluoride and then when we apply this varnish to the teeth, the fluoride stays in contact, with the teeth up to 30 minutes and it’s very effective. The new research also shows that fluoride is not only useful for kids, it’s useful for adults also. So, we started doing a fluoride varnish for both adults and kids. Fluoride varnish is very safe, very effective, and can be done on both kids and adults, up to four times in a year. Let’s do a fluoride varnish on the patients. We have anna here as a patient today. So, we’re going to show how to put the fluoride on the teeth. This is a small capsule of the fluoride. We open the fluoride, and then this is a painting brush. So, we mix the gel inside, and most of the time I ask my patients to favor me to hold it for me please. Thank you. Bring it close to the mouth on the side, and then you just practically paint, can you hold it on your left hand please? Practically, paint your teeth with the fluoride varnish. Now this is very sticky. So it’s going to stick to your teeth, and it will stay there for 30 minutes easily. After the application of fluoride, you’re not supposed to eat, drink or rinse your mouth for 30 minutes and do not brush or floss for the rest of the day. That where fluoride will be very effective. Thank you very much.
Safety Issues
Fluoride in water is safe and it is effective in helping prevent caries. 70 years of scientific research show that the optimal level of fluoride in community water is effective in preventing tooth decay.
For more information on the Safety Issues and Facts on Fluoridation please visit the ADA Page on Fluoridation
Night Guards
Night guards are hard acrylic appliances that are used to protect individuals who are Teeth Grinders and suffer from a condition known as Bruxism.
Reasons for Grinding
An exact reason for grinding would have to be diagnosed by a dental professional but there are a number of issues that are associated with Grinding:
- Crooked or misaligned teeth
- Stress or anxiety
- Sleep Disorders
- Drug or Alcohol Abuse
- Excessive use of Caffeine
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Smoking
Symptoms of Bruxism
An individual that suffers from bruxism or teeth grinding may experience pain in the jaw, especially right after waking up. There may also be difficulty in opening or closing your mouth, headaches, and damage to teeth. This damage to teeth may also increase dental sensitivity.
Treatment
Treatment for bruxism is palliative. This means that your dentist will treat all the symptoms or advise you on any habits that may be causing it but will not be able to directly treat it. A nightguard is used to protect your teeth and absorb the forces of grinding so it
A nightguard is used to protect your teeth and absorb the forces of grinding so it doesn’t damage your teeth. At our office, we can create a night guard that custom fits your teeth and will give you relief from the symptoms of Bruxism.
In addition, your dentist can also advise treatment for teeth that have been damaged by grinding such as veneers, crowns, fillings and dental implants.
Mouth Guard (Sports Guard)
Mouth guards are used to protect athletes from oral injuries when they engage in sports such as football, basketball, and hockey. It protects the teeth, lips, gums, and cheeks from injury. At our dental office, we can create custom mouth guards for you or your children.
Sealants on kids and adults
sealants are one of the best ways to prevent caries for a long time. When permanent molars erupt in the mouth they have deep grooves and cracks on chewing surfaces, these grooves and cracks collect food and it is hard to clean and that’s how caries start. When sealants are applied to the teeth the rough surface becomes very smooth like glass and it will prevent the catching the food particles and ultimately prevent caries. Study shows it is effective in the prevention of caries in adult patients if they have a deep grooves and cracks
If you want to learn more about the advanced diagnostic tools we use in our office, feel free to call us at (909) 606-4337 or Book an appointment.
