Improve Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

2 Ways Your Dentist Protects Your Teeth

27 September 2016 by Christy Long

There are many different things that your dentist does to promote good dental health, such as providing routine dental care. During your preventive care visits to your family dentist, he or she may offer applications that are specifically designed to protect your teeth from dental decay. Here are a few of them:

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride treatments are often used to help lessen your chance of developing a cavity. Although the dentist may prescribe at-home mouth rinses to help supply the fluoride needed to protect your teeth, he or she may feel that it is necessary to offer an in-office application.

Fluoride treatments that are available for home use are generally much more diluted than those available at your dentist's office. Even though your toothpaste and tap water are likely fluoridated, the amount present in the substances is not extremely high.

The products used during a fluoride treatment usually contain sufficient levels of fluoride for the mineral to be readily absorbed by the teeth. Since the solution is not swallowed, you will not ingest enough to cause poisoning or an overdose.

To apply the fluoride to your teeth, the dentist may use a brush applicator to paint the enamel surface. Alternatively, the dentist may choose to apply the fluoride on a mouthguard and allow the guard to rest in place for the desired amount of time. Once the proper period has elapsed, the fluoride is rinsed from the mouth.

Since the fluoride is absorbed by the tooth enamel, it is readily available to attract displaced minerals back to your tooth enamel. Fluoride helps draw phosphorus and calcium ions back to the teeth. It then combines with the ions to form a new tooth material that is able to resist bacterial acid better than the original tooth material.

This is important, because each time the bacteria in your mouth feed on carbohydrates from the foods that you ingest, they release bacterial acid that causes tooth decay.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are plastic coatings that are placed over the chewing surfaces of your teeth. They are generally applied to the molars, which have the deepest crevices in their chewing surface. Once the sealants are in place, they block damage from bacterial acid. Additionally, because they fill in the crevices of the chewing surfaces, it is difficult for food, plaque and other debris to settle on the teeth.

Fluoride treatments and dental sealants are applied without causing pain or discomfort. Nevertheless, the treatments offer effective protection for the teeth. To learn more about these treatments and other protective options, schedule an appointment with a family dentist, such as John S. Lyon DDS.

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