Most people understand that good oral hygiene and regular appointments with the family dentist can stop cavities. The issue is that many people do not understand the importance of visiting the dentist when they already have an excellent oral hygiene routine. The family dentist is a trained professional with many techniques for preventing tooth decay.
Cavities can wreak havoc on the teeth, including possible loss, if not treated promptly. Some of the ways a family dentist can help prevent cavities include:
Plaques are largely responsible for cavities. The sticky substance covers the tooth's surface and comes from the sugar leftover from food. Sugary remnants on the teeth serve as a meal for the bacteria present in the mouth, producing the plaques. Even with regular brushing and flossing, complete removal of plaques is hardly possible.
The plaque leftover soon starts to harden into tartar or calculus. The tartar can become a protective shield for bacteria, which produces acids that slowly break down the tooth enamel and leads to decay and cavities. Brushing cannot clean hardened plaque or tartar – only the dentist can. During the dental appointment, the dentist will use their tools to scrape tartar and plaque off the teeth, preventing the development of decay.
Fluoride remineralizes the enamel, the hard layer that protects the tooth. The remineralization strengthens the enamel, making it more resistant to cavities. Fluoride treatment is an excellent option for patients who are prone to developing cavities. The family dentist can provide a fluoride treatment.
The fluoride varnish is applied with a small brush over the top and side of every teeth. The material is sticky but quickly hardens upon exposure to saliva. Patients will feel the varnish on their teeth but cannot lick it off. Fluoride treatment is painless can also be provided in the form of foams and gels.
A dental sealant is a plastic protective coating that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars, usually the teeth that are most vulnerable to cavities. The molars and premolars have grooves that may be deep and tend to trap food debris easily, leading to decay formation.
The process involves preparing the teeth and applying the liquid dental sealant over them. The family dentist will harden the sealant using a special light. Once the sealant hardens over the teeth, it becomes a hard plastic coating. This will prevent food and bacteria from getting stuck on the teeth; brushing the teeth's surfaces is also easier. Sealants are often recommended for children between ages six and 14.
Regular visits to the family dentist can prevent the occurrence of cavities. The dentist will recommend preventive treatments if they think it will be beneficial. However, you need to know that these treatments do not replace regular brushing and flossing at home. If they discover signs of cavities on the teeth, they will provide restorative options like dental fillings to restore the tooth.
Request an appointment here: https://www.glowdentalspa.com or call Glow Dental Spa at (973) 524-7705 for an appointment in our Wayne office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Family Dentist in Wayne, NJ.
Filling cavities is one of many services that a family dentist provides. Cavities are holes in teeth that occur due to tooth decay. However, if the decay is caught early, it may be possible to reverse it before a cavity forms. Understanding how and why tooth decay happens may make it easier to learn how…
Wondering when it is necessary to visit a family dentist and when it is necessary to visit a general dentist? These are two common types of dental professionals. While they are similar, they do have their differences.Considering choosing a family dentist in Wayne? Whenever it is necessary to choose a new dentist, it is important…
If you are dealing with a knocked-out tooth, emergency dentistry is crucial. It is one of those injuries that tend to occur at the worst possible times. Most people think that their damaged tooth is lost forever once it falls out, but that is not true.Emergency dentistry includes treatments like re-attaching a knocked-out tooth. Knocked-out…
While it is always a good idea to have an emergency dentist on call, individuals can avoid a dental emergency and all the pain, cost and hassle that comes with one by taking preventative measures. In many cases, this simply entails adopting healthy lifestyle habits.Dental emergencies, which range from toothache to fractured teeth to abscesses,…