Fluoride and Sealants

Dental sealants are a thin protective coating of plastic or other dental material that is safely and painlessly applied to the surface of your teeth. Sealants protect tooth enamel by covering the pits and fissures that occur naturally on tooth surfaces. The bacteria that causes plaque and tartar — which could lead to a tooth cavity — love to get in the nooks and crannies of teeth. Sealants block tooth enamel loss and decay, making this treatment an excellent form of cavity prevention.

Questions about dental sealants and whether they’re right for you? Give us a call today!

We highly recommend the use of dental sealants for younger patients. Sealants protect baby teeth from tooth decay, which can be an excellent tool for young patients just learning how to take care of their smile properly. Sealants can support them in their efforts to brush, floss, rinse, and adhere to the proper diet that can help prevent cavities and other issues.

When your child has lost all their baby teeth, timely application of dental sealants is essential to protecting their new permanent teeth — particularly their molars and premolars, as they have the most uneven surface of all the teeth in their mouth.

It is never too late to experience the benefit of sealants. If you, as an adult, have experienced tooth decay and cavities, you can also be well served by dental sealants. After completing a thorough cleaning and any treatments that you may need, applying sealant will help preserve and promote the health of your teeth, warding off decay-causing plaque and tartar.

Depending on the health of your mouth, dental experts recommend receiving professional fluoride treatments at regular intervals. We offer fluoride treatments to support the enamel and health of your teeth. Professional fluoride treatments can boost the strength of the surface of your teeth, preventing any existing decay from penetrating further.

Children can especially benefit from fluoride, as studies have shown that exposure significantly reduces the risk of cavities. That’s why experts recommend that people of all ages brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. We may also recommend special fluoride rinses if we determine that you will benefit from them.

Though professional fluoride treatments are recommended, you are also already exposed to fluoride through your diet, including drinking tea and water, eating food that has been cooked in water, and other methods. A majority of infant formula also includes the dietary fluoride your baby needs.

Are you interested in incorporating fluoride treatments in your oral health treatment plan? Talk to us at your next appointment to learn more!

Depending on your specific fluoride treatment needs — as well as your personal preferences and what we decide on together as a part of your oral health plan — there are a number of approaches when it comes to professional fluoride treatments. Those approaches can include:

• Rinses
• Foams
• Gels
• Varnish

We may use brushes, swabs, trays, or washes to apply the treatment, which contains a greater concentration of fluoride than other products available at retailers.