In our office, we think a successful visit is one where we don't find any decay or gum disease. It is much easier to prevent problems than to fix them after they have occured. You may notice that we spend a lot of time talking to you about your health, your stress levels, things going on in your life, diet, habits, smoking, your parent's teeth, and your motivation. We look at your medications, habits and diet to see if there is a pattern between your lifestyle and your oral health. We understand that gum disease and decay are part of a disease process and we want to be your allie in protecting against these diseases.

Some of us are blessed with a great immune system, healthy bacteria, well-formed enamel and bone, great health and genetics. Some of us are not. We try to address the issues that may be tipping the balance of disease out of your favor, and try to mitigate them by diet, fluoride, antibiotic mouth rinses, xylitol gum and electric toothbrushes. We may suggest that you get your teeth cleaned more often to decrease the amount of bacteria in your mouth. We may ask you to coordinate with your doctors to change medications that may be detrimental to your mouth. We may suggest a prescription toothpaste to make your teeth less suseptible to decay or a mouthrinse to help fight against gum disease. We may suggest a nightguard to protect your teeth from destructive clenching, which can also be associated with gum disease. We may suggest sealants as a way to prevent decay from starting in the grooves of your teeth.

Sealants

A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars). This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids. Sealants are most effective on primary teeth because these teeth will be replaced by age eleven.

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract food and plaque, so sealants are used to protect these vulnerable areas by "sealing out" plaque and food.

Sealants work well for all ages. Because the likelihood of developing pit and fissure decay begins early in life, children and teenagers are obvious candidates. But adults can benefit from sealants as well.

Sealants are easy for your dentist to apply. It takes only a few minutes to seal each tooth. First, the tooth is cleaned. Next, the chewing surfaces are roughened with an acid solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. Then the sealant is 'painted' onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last several years before a reapplication is needed. During your regular dental visits, your dentist will check the condition of the sealants and reapply them when necessary.

Our goal is to help prevent and control periodontal disease and decay. We keep up to date with the newest advances in preventative care, and hope to share them with you.