PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY
FLUORIDE APPLICATION
It is found that 9 out of 10 children fall prey to dental decay. Improper dietary habits, insufficient hygiene maintenance and eating lot of sticky food stuffs like chocolates, biscuits, chips have contributed a lot to dental caries or decay.
Newly erupted teeth are not completely matured enough to fight bacterial attack in oral cavity. Such teeth are primarily attacked by bacteria leading to dental decay. Fluoride application helps in strengthening of outer covering of tooth (Enamel) by remineralisation process. This fluoridated remineralised tissues is more resistant to the acids produced by bacteria and further decay process. Generally fluoride application is done in age groups of 3, 7, 11 and 13 years. However age group may vary according to the dentition status of particular child.
PIT AND FISSURE SEALANTS
Human teeth especially premolars and molars presents irregular biting or chewing surface. Pits and Fissures (grooves) on biting surface help in proper breakdown of food but they are also difficult area for brush bristle to reach down. It is primarily observed that 90% of the cavities on chewing surface start in pit and fissure area and spread further. Therefore, it is essential to prevent dental decay by sealing those areas with a resinous sealing material called ‘PIT AND FISSURE SEALANTS.’
It is a painless, small procedure which requires negligible or no drilling, hence easily accepted even by kids. Many clinical studies have reported 70% reduction in decay of teeth surfaces sealed with Pit and Fissure sealants.
REMINERALISATION OF TEETH
Remineralisation of teeth is a process in which minerals are returned to the molecular structure of the tooth itself.Our newly erupted tooth is not matured enough to fight against bacteria in oral cavity. It takes minerals such as calcium, phosphate, fluoride from saliva to strengthen the enamel. However, frequent acid attacks from oral bacteria does not allow tooth to undergo remineralisation, such mineral deficient areas appear as chalky while spots or ditch on tooth surface and are the primary sites for bacterial attack leading to dental caries or decay. Remineralisation procedure includes fabrication of special tray to hold the medicated formulation in contact with the demineralised areas of teeth. Before application of the tray intraorally, all the demineralised or deficient areas are etched and dried to enhance the percolation of minerals inside the tooth, then the tray loaded with medicated formulation is placed over teeth for certain period of time according to the degree of demineralisation of teeth.
LASER BACTERIAL REDUCTION (LBR
It is a painless procedure used for eradication of bacterial infection in diseased gums. Laser energy specifically targets pigmented bacteria and inflammed gums. In most of the cases, LBR can avoid surgical procedure required for the treatment of spongy, red, suppurative gums.