Preventive Care

Fluoride therapy:

Using Fluoride to Protect Your Child’s Teeth

You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly, and visit the dentist every six months, but did you know that rinsing with fluoride — a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay — also helps keep your teeth healthy and strong?

Fluoride is effective in preventing cavities and tooth decay by coating your teeth and preventing plaque from building up and hardening on the tooth's surface.

Fluoride is applied topically to help prevent caries (cavities) on teeth present in the mouth. It is delivered through toothpaste, mouthwash, and professional fluoride applications.

Receiving a fluoride treatment from your dentist

A fluoride treatment in your dentist's office takes just a few minutes.

After the treatment, patients may be asked not to rinse, eat, or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.

Depending our evaluation of your child’s oral health, you may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six, or 12 months.

Pit and fissure sealants:

While there is no single method for protecting teeth from disease and decay, dental sealants are one proven treatment option that can help maintain dental health along with regular cleanings and at-home care.

At our practice, we will evaluate your child’s teeth on his or her first visit and will determine the best timing for applying dental sealants. In some cases, tooth sealants will be applied in conjunction with dental fillings.

What are dental sealants?

Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are applied to the surface of the tooth to protect the grooves of the teeth from decay. Decay often begins in these grooves because they are hard to clean and susceptible to a buildup of plaque. Sealants create a smooth surface that fills deep grooves and makes teeth easier to clean.

When should dental sealants be performed?

Tooth sealants can be applied to children once the six-year molars are present, or any time between the ages of 6 and 16.

What does getting dental sealants for kids involve?

Dental sealants are performed in-office. Sealants are applied by cleaning the selected tooth and then painting the sealant onto the tooth enamel, where it will harden and bond to the tooth and protect it from decay. This procedure takes just a few minutes and is painless.

The placing of dental sealants is a completely painless preventive procedure.

Teeth cleaning:

It is important to get teeth cleaning done every six months.

Dental Prophylaxis – commonly called a “prophylaxis” is a treatment that involves polishing the teeth to control bacteria on the teeth and just beneath the gum line.

A prophylaxis is typically performed twice per year to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

These visits are short and gentle on the pocket and are less traumatic for the child.

Tooth polishing is a painless dental procedure, and some patients enjoy it. The dentist uses a small & soft rubber cup and polishing paste.

This procedure helps in making the surface of the tooth smoother which prevents the bacteria in the mouth to adhere to the tooth hence prevents cavity formation.