We want to help kids in our community enjoy good oral health and avoid the onset of tooth decay. One way to help is with a unique preventive treatment designed to protect teeth from the onset of tooth decay. In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, dentist talks about the placement of dental sealants.
Placing Dental Sealants
The placement process only takes a few minutes, and can help lower the risk of cavities for years to come. To begin, we will clean your child’s rear teeth. We then apply a special acidic gel to the molars, which roughens the surface to make the sealants better adhere to them as they cure. We then remove the acid and apply the special plastic sealant to the teeth. We cure it with a blue light. The layers will remain in place for up to ten years, preventing food particles from clinging to the rear molars or becoming trapped between them. Since this is an area many kids have trouble reaching then they brush and floss, this could help lower the risk of cavities significantly. They don’t need to be removed either, as they will gradually wear away with time, but could be re-applied as needed.
Fluoride Gel
During your child’s checkup and cleaning visits, we will also apply a fluoride gel to the teeth. A naturally occurring mineral, this has been shown to strengthen the outer enamel and make cavities less likely. That’s why many communities in our country have added this to the tap water, as it has lowered rates of tooth decay in people of all ages. We apply the topical gel in just minutes, and this helps improve the strength of the outer enamel. You can also find this ingredient in toothpaste. Kids three and younger should use a rice sized amount of it, and kids over the age of three should use a pea sized amount.
Other Preventive Treatments
During your child’s regular six-month appointments, we will also clean the teeth. A dental cleaning involves using an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to break up and remove all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth. We then polish the teeth for a brighter appearance. The entire process takes only a short amount of time, but could help fight cavities, bad breath, teeth stains, and even gingivitis. If you have any questions about scheduling a visit with our team soon, then contact our office toasty!
Talk to Your Shirley, NY, Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist
Our team wants to help kids avoid the onset of tooth decay. To learn more about treating poor oral health and avoiding cavities, then contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.
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