Regular dental examinations are key to identifying problems early, when correction is generally more comfortable and less expensive than it is if the problems are neglected and allowed to get worse. Such examinations can also detect patterns, such as unusual plaque levels, jaw joint changes, and ineffective brushing or flossing methods, that if left unchecked could eventually lead to problems.
No one does a perfect job brushing and flossing at home, and when plaque has been allowed to remain on your teeth for a couple weeks or so, it begins to absorb calcium and other minerals from your diet. This causes the plaque to become calcified into a hard substance called calculus or tartar. Calculus is so hard that toothbrushing and flossing will not remove it. It must be mechanically removed by a dentist every few months to prevent the same problems caused by plaque.
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in almost all foods and water supplies to varying degrees. The beneficial effects of fluoride on oral health have been known since the 1940's. Dentists and others discovered that residents of communities with higher natural amounts of fluoride in their water supplies had lower incidences of decay than residents of other communities. In fact, early sudies showed a 50-65% reduction in dental cavities in children who from birth drank water of a specific amount of fluoride, compared with children who drank water with much smaller amounts of fluoride. Numerous subsequent studies have proven the safety of fluoride when used in proper concentrations.
Children benefit the most from fluoride, since it is incorporated into their tooth structure as the teeth form, providing lifelong resistance to decay. Fluoride helps adults too, but to a lesser degree. Fluoride can be obtained in several ways:
Fluoridating community drinking water to 1 part per million is the most efficient and cost-effective way to improve the overall dental health of a community. According to Dr William Maas, director of the CDC’s oral health program, every $1 invested in fluoridation of large community water supplies yields $38 savings in dental treatment costs.
Additionally, most toothpaste contains sodium fluoride or stannous fluoride. Children's dental checkup and cleaning appointments generally include topical application of fluoride.
Despite the claims of a few small pockets of paranoid pseudo-science groups, fluoride in community water supplies is not correlated with increased suseptibility to communist thoughts, or to any increase in systemic illnesses. Over the years it seems that as one set of foolish claims is disproven, another crops up to take its place. The fact is, no harm has ever been found to result from fluoridating community water supplies to appropriate levels. The American Dental Association's website contains a significant amount of information and links to other sites regarding the truth about fluoridated water supplies.
Pit and fissure sealants are another way to protect children's teeth from decay. Liquid plastic is flowed onto the treated biting surfaces of permanent molars shortly after they have erupted into the child's mouth. That process fills in the very narrow pits and fissures that are difficult to keep clean. The plastic is hardened, typically with a light. Sealants can reduce by about 80% the incidence of decay on the surfaces of permanent molars which are usually the first to decay. They typically last a few years to protect the teeth while they are most vulnerable to decay. Eventually the teeth develop natural resistance to decay, so sealants are not usually applied in older children and adults.
This is a model of a permanent molar before it was sealed, and after:
No matter what a dentist does for a patient, the success of treatment depends on how clean the teeth are kept on a daily basis. Due to the tremendous growth rate of intraoral bacteria, teeth should be thoroughly brushed 3 times daily, cleaning the root surfaces below the gumline by holding a soft bristled toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the teeth and using a gentle back and forth motion:
Teeth should be flossed at least once daily, since bacteria between teeth are typically more anaerobic and have a slower growth rate than do the bacteria in areas accessable by toothbrush.