Preventing Cavities (Our Published Article)
Your Child’s Dental Health: New Advances in Cavity Prevention! (Published in “Frederick’s Child” Magazine)
By Joseph Camacho, DDS and Michael Virts, DDS
As parents, we place it upon ourselves to provide our children with the best medical and dental care possible. All of us have heard the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and when the saying involves pediatric dental care, nothing could be closer to the truth. Sadly, thousands of school days are missed nationwide every year due to dental disease. In the 2010/2011 Reference Manual published by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), it is noted that “children with dental pain may be irritable, withdrawn, or unable to concentrate,” and “pain can affect test performance as well as school attendance.” As Dr. Virts discussed in the September/October 2010 issue of Frederick’s Child, much of this problem is preventable with simple, economical solutions. Fortunately, like many other products and services in today’s market, preventive dental research and materials are advancing at a rate never before seen. Our discussion this month will focus on some new technologies that pediatric dentists are utilizing to prevent decay in your children’s teeth.
Topical Fluoride Varnish
Topical fluoride is very important to a growing child’s teeth because it strengthens the enamel, markedly reducing tooth decay. Gone are the days of fluoride treatments requiring an uncomfortable foam tray with a suction straw to remove the excess fluoride gel. Both the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry prefer that a fluoride varnish be used for children at risk for dental disease. Fluoride varnishes are newer on the market and because of their outstanding benefits, many pediatric dental practices have decided to offer the varnish instead of the gel system.
The advantages of fluoride varnish versus the gel are tremendous. First, the application of fluoride varnish usually takes only about 30 seconds instead of the four minutes of the older system. Also, gagging and stomach discomfort are greatly reduced in most cases because the old tray system can be very irritating to the back of the tongue, and if the child swallows excess fluoride gel, the child may become nauseated. Another benefit of the fluoride varnish is that it adheres to the teeth for four to six hours, constantly bathing the teeth with fluoride- it doesn’t wash off in a few minutes. This minimizes nausea and gagging, and the child can eat or drink most foods immediately, instead of being upset that they have to wait half an hour before a light snack. However, your child may decide that the fluoride treatment is actually the best part of their appointment because of the new flavors offered in the varnish. How many of us would have liked a tempting flavor of Caramel or Watermelon to conclude our six-month dental appointment when we were kids?
Sealants
Dental sealants are used on back teeth (molars, premolars, and sometimes canines) to fill in the naturally-occurring pits and grooves on the chewing surfaces of these teeth. The pits and grooves often are narrower than a toothbrush bristle, making it impossible to thoroughly clean the tooth. This issue is compounded when the child eats foods like gummies or potato chips that leave a residue on the teeth long after the snack is finished.
Sealants have been around for many years, but recent advances in chemistry are greatly improving their effectiveness and longevity. Many of the sealants on the market today are free of BPA, a chemical which has led to some negative media attention in recent months. Better bonding technology has allowed pediatric dentists and hygienists to place sealants that last much longer on the teeth, and replacement is not needed as often today as was sometimes the case in the past. Advances in chemistry have also decreased the time necessary for the dental professional to apply the sealant. In most cases, it only takes about three to five minutes to apply a sealant, so the appointment is usually fairly short. Some sealants also contain materials that release fluoride onto the enamel of the tooth, strengthening the tooth underneath the sealant. To prevent decay underneath the sealant, most pediatric dentists will gently clean the pits and grooves of the tooth before the sealant is applied. Children and parents alike are happy to know that local anesthesia is almost never necessary for sealant application.
Digital Radiography (X-Rays)
Another area of dentistry that is rapidly changing is x-ray technology. Digital x-rays, or radiographs, expose your child to less than ¼ of the radiation of conventional dental radiographs. Imaging software has increased the ability of the dental professional to much more accurately diagnose, treat, and sometimes refer children to other professionals, such as an orthodontist or oral surgeon, for comprehensive care. Many pediatric dentists use applications much like we use for digital home photography to examine your child’s radiographs. Software tools such as Zoom, Color Inversion, and Contrast help the pediatric dentist examine various aspects of the same radiograph in much more detail, instead of exposing your child to additional x-rays of that area.
Dental Care at Home
Parents have the ability to prevent decay in their children’s teeth. Even if your young child is reluctant to allow you to brush his or her teeth at home, it should be done at least twice a day. The AAPD recommends that all children under the age of 8 should be supervised in brushing and flossing, and assisted when needed. Infants and babies who are nursing or using a bottle should have their gums and any teeth wiped gently with a soft cloth moistened with warm water after each feeding. For very young children and those unable to spit out toothpaste, fluoride-free training toothpaste or a tiny smear of fluoridated toothpaste should be considered. When your child is able to spit out all of the toothpaste, they are ready to try a child’s toothpaste. Toothbrushes come in manual and powered versions, all in a wide range of styles and prices. Your child’s pediatric dentist or hygienist will be able to guide you toward a type suitable for your child. We have found that when the child chooses his or her toothbrush and toothpaste at the store, they are more willing to use the products. However, parents should always have the final say and ultimately choose a toothbrush and toothpaste that are approved by the American Dental Association. Flossing is also very important for children, especially if their teeth do not have spaces between them. “Floss on a stick” products available in many stores are easier for children and parents to use than standard floss in a dispenser. These are available in designs and flavors that appeal to children of all ages. At a minimum, a full two minutes of brushing and flossing should be completed both after breakfast and immediately before bed.
Simple preventive measures taken at home and by your pediatric dental practice will provide a significant savings in both your time and finances as your children develop into healthy young adults. Please make sure to bring your children to the dentist by the age of one, or when their first tooth appears. Your child’s pediatric dentist is a partner with you in your child’s overall health, and offers a dental home where your child can develop a smile that will last a lifetime.
