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Q: At what
age are my children supposed to see a dentist?
A: The
general rule is between 30 and 36 months. Some children
require a bit more time to be comfortable. If an area of
concern is noticed, then the child should see a dentist as
soon as possible.
Q: Why is
it important to fix baby teeth that have decay? Aren't they
going to come out soon anyway?
A: It is
very important to maintain the baby teeth because these teeth
hold space for the future eruption of the permanent teeth. If
a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space
necessary for the permanent teeth is lost and may only be
regained through orthodontic treatment. Infected baby teeth
can cause the permanent teeth to develop improperly, resulting
in stains, pits and weaker teeth.
Q: When
will my child lose his/her baby teeth?
A:
Children will begin losing their teeth at approximately age 5
1/2 to 6. They will usually lose their front teeth first.
Children will continue to lose baby teeth until the age of 12
or 13 when all of the permanent teeth finally erupt.
Q: When
does thumb sucking become damaging to the teeth?
A:
Generally, if the child has stopped sucking his/her thumb by
age 5 there is no permanent damage. If the child is a vigorous
and constant thumb sucker, however, there can be moderate to
severe movement of teeth and prevention of normal bone growth.
Q: Should
my child wear a mouth guard while playing sports?
A: It is
strongly recommended that children wear mouth guards while
playing any contact sport. It is always better to prevent an
injury than to repair one. The earlier a child begins to wear
the mouth guard, the easier it is to become comfortable and
continue to wear it as the child gets older.
Q: What
should I do if my child gets a tooth knocked out?
A: If the
tooth is a permanent tooth, time is extremely crucial.
Immediately stick the tooth back in the socket. Don't worry
about getting it in straight or having it turned backwards,
just get it in the socket and immediately call your dentist.
If you are uncomfortable placing the tooth in the socket, put
it in a glass of milk and get your child to the dentist as
quickly as possible. If the tooth is a baby tooth, do not put
it in the socket because damage to the permanent tooth can
occur. When in doubt, put the tooth in milk and see your
dentist immediately.
Q: What is
a sealant?
A: A
dental sealant is a thin plastic film placed on the chewing
surfaces of molars and premolars (the teeth directly in front
of the molars). Sealants have been shown to be highly
effective in the prevention of cavities. They were developed
through dental research in the 1950s and first became
available commercially in the early 1970s.
Q: How
effective are sealants?
A:
Scientific studies have proven that properly applied sealants
are 100 percent effective in protecting the tooth surfaces
from cavities. Because sealants act as a physical barrier to
decay, protection is determined by the sealants' ability to
adhere to the tooth. As long as the sealant remains intact,
small food particles and bacteria that cause cavities cannot
penetrate through or around a sealant. In fact, research has
shown that sealants actually stop cavities when placed on top
of a slightly decayed tooth by sealing off the supply of
nutrients to the bacteria that cause the cavity. Sealant
protection is reduced or lost when part or the entire bond
between the tooth and sealant is broken. However, clinical
studies have shown that teeth that have lost sealants are no
more susceptible to tooth decay than teeth that were never
sealed.
Q: How are
sealants applied?
A: Sealant
application involves cleaning the surface of the tooth and
rinsing the surface to remove all traces of the cleaning
agent. An etching solution or gel is applied to the enamel
surface of the tooth, including the pits and grooves. After 15
seconds, the solution is thoroughly rinsed away with water.
After the site is dried, the sealant material is applied and
allowed to harden by using a special curing light. Sealant
treatment is painless and could take anywhere from five to 45
minutes to apply, depending on how many teeth need to be
sealed. Sealants must be applied properly for good retention.
Q: How
long will a sealant last?
A:
Sealants should last five years, but can last as long as 10
years. One study reported that seven years after application,
an impressive 49 percent of treated teeth were still
completely covered. Sealants should not be considered
permanent. Regular dental check-ups are necessary to monitor
the sealants' bond to the tooth.
Q: Who
should receive sealant treatment?
A:
Children, because they have newly erupted, permanent teeth,
receive the greatest benefit from sealants. The chewing
surfaces of a child's teeth are most susceptible to cavities
and the least benefited by fluoride. Surveys show that
approximately two-thirds of all cavities occur in the narrow
pits and grooves of a child's newly erupted teeth because food
particles and bacteria cannot be cleaned out. Other patients
also can benefit from sealant placement, such as those who
have existing pits and grooves susceptible to decay. Research
has shown that almost everybody has a 95 percent chance of
eventually experiencing cavities in the pits and grooves of
their teeth.
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