Protecting Your Teeth from the Very Start
Fluoride Treatment
Children, in particular, benefit from fluoride treatment. As adult teeth come in, fluoride helps fight tooth decay through a process called remineralization. Acids from plaque and food can wear down tooth enamel by depleting essential minerals. Fluoride treatment halts and reverses this process, making tooth enamel stronger and more resistant to decay.
Dental Sealants
The biting surfaces of molars have grooves and fissures that can easily trap acidic plaque or food particles, which may be difficult to clean. When children get new molars, dental sealants can be applied to keep food particles out, protect their natural teeth, and prevent decay. Dental sealants provide a protective shield for these vulnerable areas.
Why Opt for Sealants and Fluoride?
The Canadian Dental Association supports the appropriate and selective use of sealants for both primary and permanent teeth, based on a dentist’s risk assessment and diagnosis. According to the CDA, sealants are a key part of a comprehensive preventive program that includes nutritional counseling, optimal fluoride exposure, good oral hygiene, and regular dental exams.
Visiting a Dental Office North York ensures that you get the most effective care for your child’s oral health.
Reduce Tooth Sensitivity
Enamel is the outermost layer of a tooth. Beneath it, teeth are made up of dentin, pulp, and nerve. Dentin helps support the structure of the tooth but cannot protect the nerve from hot, cold, or acid. If enamel becomes thin and worn, teeth become sensitive. Fluoride and sealants keep enamel in good condition so it can continue to protect the dentin from the elements.
Prevent and Reverse Decay
Worn enamel continues to decay until a cavity forms. In addition to causing sensitivity, exposed dentin increases the risk of infection, which can be very painful and may require a root canal to save the tooth. Rebuilding enamel with fluoride and protecting vulnerable areas from plaque build up helps prevent decay and strengthens teeth.
Save Money in the Long Run
An ounce of prevention now is worth a pound of cure later. Fluoride and sealants are relatively inexpensive treatments that will prevent the need for more costly procedures if tooth decay progresses.
The Fluoridation and Sealant Process
Fluoride treatments are typically added to your child’s routine cleaning and exam once a year. Sealants are applied as needed, usually after a new molar erupts or if the dentist finds a problem area on the biting surface of a tooth.
Fluoride Treatment
The fluoride treatment we use is stronger than store bought products because it is applied by professionals in our Dental Office. Our most common fluoride treatment comes in foam or gel form, applied in upper and lower trays. Fluoride only takes a few minutes to apply at the end of your teeth cleaning. After treatment, we ask patients to avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes to allow the fluoride to fully absorb for maximum benefit.
Dental Sealant Application
Dental sealants are easy to apply and completely painless. No drilling or freezing is required. The dentist will clean and dry the tooth before applying a mild acidic gel to roughen the surface for the strongest bond. The gel is rinsed off, the tooth is dried again, and sealant is pressed into the grooves of the tooth. A special blue light is used to cure the sealant, leaving the bite feeling 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 advise you to wait 30 minutes after fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. This allows the fluoride to absorb into your tooth enamel and work effectively.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. Small concentrations of fluoride are naturally found in some sources of drinking water. Scientists discovered the benefits of fluoride when it was noticed that people living near fluorinated water sources had less tooth decay. Since then, fluoride has been added to other drinking water sources and to 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 to protect vulnerable grooves and fissures 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 sealants become chipped or worn, they can be easily repaired by a dentist or hygienist.
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