PREVENTIVEDENTISTRY

AT
GAINESVILLEDENTALARTS

1. Fluoride Varnish
Fluoride varnish is a highly concentrated form of fluoride which is applied to the tooth's surface, by a
dentist, dental hygienist or other health care professional, as a type of topical fluoride therapy. It is not
a permanent varnish but due to its adherent nature it is able to stay in contact with the tooth surface
for several hours. It may be applied to the enamel, dentine or cementum of the tooth and can be used
to help prevent decay, remineralise the tooth surface and to treat dentine hypersensitivity.
Fluoride varnish is composed of a high concentration of fluoride as a salt or silane preparation in a fast
drying, alcohol and resin based solution. The concentration, form of fluoride, and dispensing method
may vary depending on the manufacturer. While most fluoride varnishes contain 5% sodium fluoride
at least one brand of fluoride varnish contains 1% difluorsilane in a polyurethane base.

Indications for Fluoride Varnish

Use as a topical fluoride agent on moderate and high-risk patients
Desensitizing agent for exposed root surfaces
Fluoridated cavity varnish
When a higher concentration of fluoride is needed for high caries risk patients
In the elderly to prevent increasingly prevalent root dentin lesions, which may require higher
concentration of fluoride

On advanced enamel carious lesions, which may also require higher fluoride concentration for
remineralization

Fluoride treatment for institutionalized patients or in other situations where setting,

equipment and patient management might preclude the use of other fluoride delivery
methods

Caries prevention on exposed root surfaces

Remineralization of lesions in root dentine
Fluoride application around orthodontic bands and brackets
Fluoride treatment on patients when there is a concern that a fluoride rinse, gel or foam might
be swallowed

Contraindications for use

Areas with open cavities.

 Treatment of areas where discoloration after treatment may be an aesthetic concern.

Please contact Gainesville Dental Arts regarding information on Fluoride Varnish application. Call us at
703-743-2324 for an appointment and visit us at Gainesville Dental Arts in Gainesville and let us help
you to protect your teeth from cavities.

2. Caries Control
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay happens because bacteria (germs) that live in our mouths use sugar from the food
we eat. When these bacteria use the sugar, they make acid. Over time, the acid can cause
cavities (or holes) in teeth.

Is my child at risk for tooth decay?

Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases. Almost 1 in 2 children will have
decay in their baby teeth.
Eating and drinking lots of sugary foods and drinks puts your child at higher risk for tooth
decay. But healthy habits, including brushing and flossing, can prevent tooth decay.
Your childs first teeth (or baby teeth) are important. Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth.
Take care of your childs teeth to protect your child from tooth decay (cavities).
Tooth decay can cause your child pain, Make it hard for your child to chew, Make your child
embarrassed to talk or smile, Create problems for your childs adult teeth

How to Prevent Cavities

Cavities happen when bacteria and food left on the teeth after eating are not brushed away.

Acid collects on a tooth, softening its enamel until a hole or cavity forms.
Here's how to keep cavities away:

Start good oral habits early. Teach kids to brush at least twice a day with fluoride
toothpaste and to floss regularly.

Get enough fluoride. Regular use of fluoride toughens the enamel, making it harder for
acid to penetrate. Although many towns require tap water to be fluoridated, others
don't. If your water supply is not fluoridated or if your family uses purified water, ask
your dentist for fluoride supplements. Be careful, however, since too much fluoride can
cause tooth discoloration. Check with your dentist before supplementing. Most
toothpaste contains fluoride but toothpaste alone will not fully protect a child's teeth.

Limit or avoid certain foods. Sugary foods, juices, candy (especially sticky gummy candy,
gummy vitamins, or fruit leather or "roll-ups") can erode enamel and cause cavities. If
your kids eat these foods, have them rinse their mouth or brush their teeth after eating
to wash away the sugar. The same goes for taking sweetened liquid medicines: always
have kids rinse or brush afterward.
As your child's permanent teeth grow in, the dentist can help prevent decay by applying a thin
wash of resin (called a sealant) to the back teeth, where most chewing is done. This protective
coating keeps bacteria from settling in the hard-to-reach crevices of the molars. But make sure
that kids know that sealants aren't a replacement for good brushing and regular flossing.

Does Diet Affect My Child's Teeth?

Yes. Avoiding sweets, sticky foods and between-meal snacks is good advice. To avoid cavities,
limit sweet snacks and drinks between meals. Have meals and snacks at regular times.
Teeth-friendly snacks include foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Baby bottles can create additional problems with your child's dental health. When liquid from a
bottle--like milk and juice--stays in contact with the teeth for a long time, the sugars cause
tooth decay. This can create a condition called bottle mouth. Your baby's teeth can develop
cavities and become pitted or discolored. Never put a baby to bed with a bottle. Don't let your

child walk around during the day with a bottle, and teach your child to use a drinking cup
around his or her first birthday.
Make sure your child has a balanced diet including one serving each of: fruits and vegetables,
breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat fish and eggs. Limiting the servings of
sugars and starches will aid in protecting your child's teeth from decay. You can ask us to help
you select foods that protect your children's teeth.
Third, the dentist is able to educate parents and children during the visit. Sometimes the
dentist wants to introduce one or several factors to enhance tooth health - for example,
sealants, fluoride supplements, or xylitol. Other times, the dentist asks parents to change the
childs dietary or oral behavior - for example, reducing sugar in the childs diet, removing an
intraoral piercing, or even transitioning the child from sippy cups to adult-sized drinking
glasses.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby bottle tooth decay (also called early childhood caries, nursing caries, and nursing bottle
syndrome) happens when a baby's teeth are in frequent contact with sugars from drinks, such
as fruit juices, milk, formula, fruit juice diluted with water, sugar water, or any other sweet
drink. If breastfed infants fall asleep with swallowed milk in their mouths, they are also at risk
for tooth decay. Bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars, causing tooth decay.
If left untreated, decayed teeth can cause pain and make it difficult to chew and eat. Also, baby
teeth serve as "space savers" for adult teeth. If baby teeth are damaged or destroyed, they can't
help guide permanent teeth into their proper position, possibly resulting in crowded or crooked
permanent teeth. Badly decayed baby teeth could lead to an abscessed tooth, with the
possibility of infection spreading elsewhere in the body.

How Do I Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth

Decay?
Some tips to prevent baby bottle tooth decay include:

During the day, to calm or comfort your baby, don't give a bottle filled with sugary
drinks or milk; instead, give plain water or a pacifier.

Never dip your baby's pacifier in sugar, honey, or any sugary liquid

 .Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle filled with sugary drinks (watered-down fruit
juice or milk still increases the risk of decay). Give a small amount of plain water or use a
pacifier instead. Too much water is harmful to a baby.

If your baby is nursing at night, make sure you remove your breast from your baby's
mouth when she falls asleep.

Don't add sugar to your baby's food.

Use a wet cloth or gauze to wipe your baby's teeth and gums after each feeding. This
helps remove any bacteria-forming plaque and sugar that have built up on the teeth and
gums.

Ask your dentist about your baby's fluoride needs. If your drinking water is not
fluoridated, fluoride supplements or fluoride treatments may be needed.

Teach your baby to drink from a cup by his or her first birthday. Moving to a "sippy cup"
lowers the teeth's exposure to sugars, but constant sipping from the cup can still result
in decay unless it is filled with plain water.
Call us at 703-743-2324 for an appointment and visit us at Gainesville Dental Arts in Gainesville
for more information and let us help you to protect your childs teeth from cavities.

3. Sealants
Dental sealants are an easy way to help prevent tooth decay before it even occurs. These safe
plastic resin coatings are applied to the grooves that are usually found on the chewing surfaces
in the back teeth to protect teeth from damage caused by accumulation of plaque, and food.
Sealants are painted on as a liquid and quickly harden to form a shield within the grooves over
the tooth. Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This
eliminates the reason why food particles get caught in the teeth, preventing cavities. The
application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years.
Many people think sealants are only for children and adolescents, but adults can also benefit
from sealant treatment. Sealant application is quick and convenient, and the benefits last for
several years.

How are sealants put on?

1. The tooth is cleaned.
2. The tooth is dried, and cotton is put around the tooth so it stays dry.
3. A solution is put on the tooth that makes the surface a little rough. (It is easier for the
sealant to stick to a slightly rough surface.)
4. The tooth is rinsed and dried. Then new cotton is put around the tooth so it stays dry.

5. The sealant is applied in liquid form and hardens in a few seconds.

6. The sealant is in

place.

Why get sealants?

The most important reason for getting sealants is to avoid tooth decay. Fluoride in toothpaste
and in drinking water protects the smooth surfaces of teeth but back teeth need extra
protection. Sealants cover the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and keep out germs and food.
Having sealants put on teeth before they decay will also save time and money in the long run by
avoiding fillings, crowns, or caps used to fix decayed teeth.

What causes tooth decay?

Germs in the mouth use the sugar in food to make acids. Over time, the acids can make a cavity
in the tooth. Of course a healthy tooth is always the best tooth. That's why sealants are so
important to prevent decay.

Why do back teeth decay so easily?

The chewing surfaces of back teeth are rough and uneven because they have small pits and
grooves. Food and germs can get stuck in the pits and grooves and stay there a long time
because toothbrush bristles cannot brush them away.

Who should get sealants?

Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as the teeth come in -- before
decay attacks the teeth.

The first permanent molars -- called "6 year molars" -- come in between the ages of 5 and 7.
The second permanent molars -- "12 year molars" -- come in between 11 and 14 years old.
The premolars come in between the ages of 8 and 10.
All teeth with pits and grooves also might need to be sealed. Teenagers and young adults who
are prone to decay may also need sealants.

Should sealants be put on baby teeth?

Your dentist might think it is a good idea, especially if your child's baby teeth have deep pits
and grooves. Baby teeth save space for permanent teeth. It is important to keep baby teeth
healthy so they don't fall out early.

Does insurance pay for sealants?

Some health insurance programs pay for sealants. We at Gainesville Dental Arts will contact
your insurance company for details.

How long do sealants last?

Sealants can last up to 10 years. But they need to be checked at regular dental check-ups to
make sure they are not chipped or worn away. The dentist or dental hygienist can repair
sealants by adding more sealant material.

Are sealants new?

No, sealants have been around since the 1960s. Studies by the National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research and others led to the development of dental sealants and showed that
they are safe and effective. But many people still do not know about sealants. In fact, less than
one-third of children in the United States have sealants on their teeth.

Besides sealants, are there other ways

to prevent tooth decay?
Yes. Using fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water can help protect teeth from
decay. Fluoride can be prescribed in the form of a gel, mouth rinse, or tablet.
Fluoride is the best defense against tooth decay! Fluoride...

makes teeth more resistant to decay

repairs tiny areas of decay before they become big cavities
makes germs in the mouth less able to cause decay
Fluoride helps the smooth surfaces of the teeth the most. It is less effective on the chewing
surfaces of the back teeth. Regular brushing -- with fluoride toothpaste -- also helps prevent
tooth decay.
Sealants and fluoride together can prevent almost all tooth decay.

How can I get dental sealants for my

children?
Sometimes sealants are put on at school. Check with your school about whether it has a sealant
program.
Please contact Dr. Kaur regarding information on sealant application. Call 703-743-2324 for an
appointment and visit us at Gainesville Dental Arts in Gainesville and let us help you to protect
your childs teeth from cavities.

4. Diet Modification
Dental diseases include dental caries, developmental defects of enamel, dental erosion and
periodontal disease. The main cause of tooth loss is dental caries in which diet plays an
important role. Diet also plays a significant aetiological role in dental erosion, the prevalence of
which seems to be increasing, and dietary components may contribute to development of
enamel defects
Diet has a local effect on oral health, primarily on the integrity of the teeth, pH, and
composition of the saliva and plaque. Nutrition, however, has a systemic effect on the integrity

of the oral cavity, including teeth, periodontium (supporting structure of the teeth), oral
mucosa, and alveolar bone. Alterations in nutrient intake secondary to changes in diet intake,
absorption, metabolism, or excretion can affect the integrity of the teeth, surrounding tissues,
and bone as well as the response to wound healing.
The form of the fermentable carbohydrate directly influences the duration of exposure and
retention of the food on the teeth. Prolonged oral retention of cariogenic components of food
may lead to extended periods of acid production and demineralization and to shortened periods
of remineralization.
Do not wait so much Call today to learn more about Diet Modification , and how we can help
you have the smile you deserve!

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