Local Dental Care - Tooth Charts

Dental Sealants

Imagine a barrier applied to teeth that can effectively prevent tooth decay! That's the miracle-working power of dental sealants, a thin plastic film (usually either white, pink, orange, or yellow) applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth and other teeth with deep grooves. They act as a dental fortress, sealing out small food particles and cavity-causing bacteria.

Sealants Are Highly Effective

Scientific studies have proven that sealants are greater than 90% effective in protecting teeth from decay. As long as the sealant remains intact, cavity-causing food particles and bacteria cannot penetrate.

Durability

Sealants provide protection for three to five years. They serve as an excellent safeguard against cavities, especially critical for children in protecting their teeth during cavity-prone years. Adults also can benefit from sealant protection, particularly those susceptible to decay. Regular dental check-ups with your pediatric dentist are important for monitoring the durability of the sealants' bond.

Recommended for Children

Protecting children's permanent teeth from cavities is a dental health priority. Sealants are designed to protect the chewing surfaces of teeth since they're the most susceptible to the formation of cavities. Fluoride products and treatments don't provide the same type of cavity protection as do sealants. Sealants are superior in penetrating the grooved surfaces of teeth. Without the protection of sealants, 95% of people eventually get cavities in the grooved surfaces of their teeth. It makes sense to beat the odds and protect them from becoming a statistic.

How Are Dental Sealants Applied?

Sealant treatment is painless and quick, taking just a few minutes for each tooth. The first step is cleaning and rinsing the surface of the tooth. A cleansing gel is applied to the tooth, and 15 seconds later, rinsed away with water. The dentist then applies the sealant and it is allowed to harden, often times by using a special blue curing light. In less than an hour, teeth receive years of protection against cavities. Sealants have been approved by the American Dental Association Council on Dental Therapeutics since 1972, offering patients safe, effective, and painless protection against cavities. The latest generation of sealants actually can release fluoride if needed, to add double protection to the teeth.

by Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Dental Health Care: Discolored Primary Teeth

Discoloration of the primary (baby) incisors (front teeth) is most often noticed by parents. This discoloration may be extrinsic or intrinsic. Tooth brushing or a professional cleaning can remove extrinsic discolorations or stains. Intrinsic discoloration occurs within the tooth structure.

Some apple juices and grape juice may cause staining. This type of stain can usually be brushed off the teeth at home. If your child has a tendency to stain, try diluting the juice with water. Once the enamel begins to break down, the staining may be more difficult to remove because it is deep down in the tiny holes created by break down of the enamel. This could progress on to decay. If the teeth appear to be a dull, white color in some spots, discontinue juices completely or dilute the juice with water. Juice is twenty times more decay-causing than milk. Juices should be limited to mealtime only.

Liquid and chewable medicines have a high sugar content and most are colored with dye. A light yellow-brown film may cover the teeth. This occurs most often on the bottom front teeth. Bedtime tooth brushing is especially important when your child is taking liquid or chewable medicine. Tetracycline is the only antibiotic that could cause damage to the developing permanent teeth if given before eight years of age.

Iron in chewable or liquid vitamins may cause staining of the grooves of the primary (baby) molars. This is difficult to remove, but overall is harmless.

You must brush your child's teeth until six years of age. Bedtime brushing is the most important time of day. Staining may occur if plaque remains on teeth for a long period of time. Plaque is made up of cells from the inside of the mouth, bacteria, and food residues. Teeth may appear to be discolored, but a thorough brushing may remove this stain. Do not use toothpaste until two years of age. Baking soda toothpaste seems to be best for stain removal.

Bacteria called chromogenic (colored) bacteria may cause a dark green or brown stain on the teeth. This stain is usually along the gum line. These bacteria are harmless and will one day just disappear. We do not know why they grow in some mouths and not others. A professional cleaning is usually necessary to remove this stain.

Intrinsic discoloration cannot be removed by cleaning the teeth. This occurs because the enamel on the primary teeth did not form in the usual manner. This may be inherited from one or both parents. It does not necessarily mean that the primary teeth will be more susceptible to decay or that the permanent teeth will have the same appearance.

Trauma to a primary incisor (front tooth) may cause discoloration. If the blood vessels deep inside the tooth break, the blood may be absorbed into the tiny tubes that travel from the inside of the tooth to the outer enamel layer. This is similar to a black and blue mark on the skin. Enamel is translucent, so you can see the evidence of the damage. This may resolve without treatment, but your pediatric dentist should be consulted. A procedure to remove the tissue from the inside of the tooth (pulpectomy) may be necessary.

by Jane A. Soxman, DDS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.