Fluoride Treatment/Sealants

What is the fluoride treatment?

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in all water sources, including the oceans. Research has shown that fluoride not only reduces cavities in children and adults, but it also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay is visible.

Fluoride is the best cavity fighter you can use to help keep the whole family’s teeth strong – no matter their ages.

When it reaches your teeth, fluoride is absorbed into the enamel. It then helps to repair the enamel by replenishing the lost calcium and phosphorous that keep your teeth hard. This process is called remineralization. When fluoride is present during remineralization, the minerals deposited into the tooth enamel help strengthen your teeth and prevent dissolution during the next demineralization phase. Thus, fluoride helps stop the decay process and prevent tooth decay.

Along with finding fluoride naturally in water, we can also provide additional fluoride treatments in our clinic to give your teeth that extra protection they need to remain healthy and strong.

What is Fissure Sealants?

Fissure sealants, also referred to as dental sealants, consist of a plastic material that is placed on the chewing (occlusal) surface of the permanent back teeth – the molars and premolars – to help protect them from bacteria and acids that contribute to tooth decay.

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from the smooth surfaces of teeth, but toothbrushes can’t reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract all food and plaque. While fluoride helps prevent decay and helps protect all the surfaces of the teeth, dental sealants add extra protection for the grooved and pitted areas.