Preventative Care
Prevention is better than cure. Protect your teeth from the beginning and ensure you never have to worry about cavities or painful teeth. Today we have access to too much junk food, sweets and aerated drinks. Preventive dental care is our responsibility towards our teeth. Preventive care includes teeth cleaning, regular check ups and mouth guards. It also includes fluoride treatments and teeth sealants.
Fluoride can re-mineralize small imperfections in the tooth enamel by attracting calcium to the teeth. Fluoride can actually make teeth stronger! Years of research and use have proven fluoride to be a safe and effective means of fighting and preventing tooth decay.
Tooth sealants or technically ‘pit and fissure’ sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting teeth from decay. This method is usually used in children. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.
Why do I need this?
Fluoride treatment and pit and fissure sealants are usually preventive care procedures done in children. However, fluoride treatment is recommended along with your cleaning appointment if you have a moderate to high risk of getting tooth decay or cavities. It is also recommended if you are going to begin with radiation or chemotherapy for treating cancer. The fluoride makes your teeth stronger and protects them.
Patient Expectations
Fluoride treatment involves a fluoride gel or foam being placed onto the teeth for a few minutes. A tray may be used to hold the fluoride gel in place. After fluoride application, please do not eat or drink for at least 60 minutes to allow for optimum absorption. After 60 mins, you can have water and liquids except milk based drinks. After 2 hours you can eat and drink everything.
Tooth sealants are quick and painless. It involves only one appointment during which a protective plastic coating is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. They set immediately and do not need any post procedure care.