TOOTH WATCHING
AGE TO BRING A CHILD TO THE DENTAL CLINIC Most children are first brought to a dentist for dental treatment between age 3 and age 4. Younger than that, they are generally not able to sit for the visit. Parents can bring along their children for their own dental procedures. This way, the child will have a pleasant first visit to the clinic, instead of being brought at the time of a toothache.
BLEACHING
Teeth can often be whitened by the several new techniques of "bleaching" available today. The most common method is the one called the "in-office" method. In this method, the teeth are first protected and isolated with a special casing. A strong bleaching agent is placed over the isolated teeth, and a special light is used to assist the bleaching material to lighten the teeth. This is a globally preferred method of dental bleaching, and better for people who have tetracycline stains or streaks on their teeth.
The "home" techniques involve making trays which fit into the mouth. These are then filled with bleaching material. When worn for a few hours a day, noticeable results are seen. The results may last from a few days to a couple weeks. Results vary from individual to individual, and it is best to check with your dentist to help decide which method will work best for you. Some of the factors involved include the intensity of the stains, whether or not you have fillings or crowns on your front teeth, as well as what may have caused the stains.
BRACES
Braces are put on teeth to help correct rotated teeth, spacing between teeth, crowding or misalignment of teeth. Newer techniques today allow for wire frames to be worn that can spread open the arch if it is too small, or pull one side of the jaw to correct the positioning of the teeth. In addition, clear brackets and brackets that can be bonded inside the teeth are making braces a good option for children or adults.
COMPOSITES
Composite or white plastic fillings are used when aesthetics is a concern. The currently available materials used for composites are as strong as silver fillings on the chewing surfaces. They do excellently in the grooves, and dramatically lower the development of cavities.
NUTRITION AND DENTISTRY
A good diet promotes a healthy lifestyle and healthy teeth. If you are anticipating some dental treatment, you may increase your intake of Vitamin C, since it aids healing. During pregnancy, women should take extra care to eat well, and brush their teeth regularly. Hormone changes can affect the susceptibility of the tissues to infection.
SEALANTS
Sealants were earlier used for children's teeth only. Global research has now revealed that adults too can benefit from sealants. Sealants are coatings of fine plastic that are placed on the etched surface in the grooves of teeth. This is typically on the back molars and sometimes on the pre-molars.
Sealants help in preventing sugars and bacteria from getting into the deep fissures of the teeth and cause decay.