Children and preventive
dentistry

FLUORIDATION OF TEETH

It is proven that fluorides strengthen milk and permanent teeth and stops tooth decay. That is why it is considered the best preventive measure in preservation of oral health. That is also why tap water is being fluorased and every tooth paste contains certain amount of fluorides. However, today it is considered that fluorides manifest their anticariogen effect primarily localy.

Thus, in order to prevent tooth decay, exposure of teeth to high concentrations of fluorides is indicated. It is done in situations when it is estimated that there is a high risk of tooth decay, for example:

• Start of tooth decay (white stain),
• More than one newly detected tooth decay per year,
• Fixed orthodontic appliance, because of difficulty in maintaining oral hygiene,
• Germination of permanent teeth, because they are surrounded by decayed teeth.

First of all, it is necessary to remove all deposits from the teeth and dry them. After that, high concentration of fluorides is applied on all surfaces of teeth in duration of 5 minutes. It can be applied if form of a gel, foam or polish, directly or with an applicator.

After the treatment, teeth need to be thoroughly rinsed from the fluorides and for the next 30 minutes avoid eating, drinking and smoking. It is best to repeat the procedure once a year.

Procedure alone is totally safe, short and interesting for children, but it is strictly necessary to be carried out under the supervision of the dentist.

 

FISSURE SEALING

Because of their anatomy, dental fissures represent one of the main places for formation of tooth decay. They are known to be so narrow and deep that it is simply impossible to brush out the retained food out of them.

That is why, in the period when the permanent teeth are  germinating, sealing of fissures with composites is indicated in order to prevent formation of tooth decay in those places. The procedure is fast, easy, and painless.