PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

Periodontal Disease

Gum disease and dental caries are the two most prevalent dental diseases in our country. Periodontal disease affects nearly 90–95% of the population, while dental caries affects about 60–80% of our children. These are caused by poor oral hygiene.

Today, apart from maintaining oral hygiene and having a non–cariogenic diet (caries inducing), other preventive measures are available for treatment which include:

Fluoride gels

Which are applied to the child’s teeth (milk/permanent) at the ages of 3, 6, 10 and 12 years. This is a procedure that is carried out in the dental office and takes about 15 minutes per arch

Fluorides

Fluoride is safe and necessary, but only at appropriate levels.

Fluoride works two ways: systemically, meaning it strengthens teeth internally, under the gums in the jawbone. Externally, fluoride strengthens tooth enamel on the surface of the teeth. Children between 6 months and age 16 should take in fluoride every day.

Water fluoridation is the safest and most cost–effective way to prevent tooth decay.

Two of the most common sources of fluoride are tap water and fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride occurs naturally in some water, but in most major municipalities it is added to the water to help prevent tooth decay.

Pediatric dentists recommend that children who regularly drink bottled water, well water, or unfluoridated tap water get fluoride in some other way. Fluoride vitamins, drops, and tablets are good examples of fluoride supplements.

Most bottled water brands process water by distilled or reverse–osmosis systems that remove fluoride along with contaminants. Some types of bottled water add fluoride to the final product and are safe for children of all ages.

What are pit and fissure sealants?

A sealant is a special varnish. It is primarily applied to the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars, the back teeth for chewing.

How do pit and fissure sealants work?

Molars and premolars have depressions and grooves known as pits and fissures on their bitting surfaces. Brushing and flossing remains an effective method of removing plaque and food particles from the non-biting smooth surface on the teeth. Effective brushing and flossing cannot clean the bases and bottoms of pits and fissures, as tooth brush bristles are neither long nor too thin enough to do so. This is where sealants come into play. Sealants, which are composed of plastic resins, flow and bond into the pits and fissures, thereby creating a barrier. Plaque and food debris are in a sence “sealed out” and difficult to clean areas are protected.

Which teeth can receive sealants?

Sealants are placed in teeth contains deep pits and fissures, on their biting surfaces. Sealants are primarily placed on molars and premolars, as they are most likely to contain deep pits and fissures on their biting surfaces. The plastic material has properties enable to flowing into and filling deep pits and grooves as the front back and inside of teeth are smooth surfaces, the sealants material will not stay on those surfaces, hence sealants are not applied to those surfaces. Also if a tooth contains a filling, it will not have a sealant placed.

When my child can have sealants?

Ideally as soon as child’s permanent molars erupt, or fully enter the mouth, they should receive sealants, as a decay preventing measures. First and second permanent molars erupt approximately at 6 or 12 years of age respectively. The sooner the sealant is placed following it’s eruption into the mouth better. The greatest risk of tooth becoming decayed is during it’s first here years in the mouth.

How long do sealants last?

Sealants last for approximately 5-10 years. At dental checkups, the integrity of previously applied sealants are evaluated and may need to be replaced. The placement of sealants is painless procedure that can prevent the formation of cavities in the pit ant fissures of the biting surfaces of the teeth. In conjunction with regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene regimen sealants effectively prevent dental decay.