The American Dental Association recommends that fluoride treatment be done every three or six months or once per year, depending on your oral health. During your appointment, we will assess your oral health and determine how frequently you may need fluoride treatment. Determining the frequency is crucial for you to experience the full benefits of the treatment. At Smile Family Dentistry, we can help educate you about the benefits of fluoride and administer it to you as needed.
Fluoride treatment is done professionally by our dental team to ensure safety. A high or low concentration of fluoride will give an ineffective treatment. We ensure that our patients receive the right fluoride concentration for the best results. The treatment is a highly concentrated fluoride liquid applied onto teeth or a mouthwash.
Our dentist may use a brush or swab to apply the fluoride, however. The tooth enamel absorbs the fluoride and makes it less vulnerable to cavity formation. Usually, the cavity develops from the bacteria and plaque acid in the mouth, but the fluoride can help restore lost enamel. Therefore, cavity formation may occur without proper oral hygiene and fluoride treatment.
Any age group can experience the benefits of a fluoride treatment. Both permanent and primary teeth have the same effect when receiving a fluoride varnish. In cases where the tooth enamel has cavity formation, the fluoride treatment can reverse early decay. The tooth will gain a new coating that is stronger and offers better resistance to cavity formation.
Furthermore, the treatment will help you prevent premature tooth loss and any gum disease. Because of this, the treatment is a prevention measure and helps avoid expensive dental treatments. For children, baby teeth can last longer with fluoride treatment, as well, since fluoride is involved in the development of permanent teeth. Therefore, the new teeth become more resistant to developing cavities.
Everyone has bacteria and acid buildup in their mouth. The level of oral hygiene someone has may determine if cavities will appear. People with weaker enamel due to aging are prone to tooth decay and will regularly need a fluoride treatment to prolong the life of their natural teeth. People with gum disease may also need a fluoride treatment to reduce the bacteria in the mouth and strengthen the teeth.
The presence of braces or crowns increases the need for fluoride treatment. The contact point between the natural teeth and treatment done is prone to decay due to plaque buildup. Receiving a fluoride treatment will help to clean the contact point. We recommended that people with partial dentures and crowns schedule regular checkups at our office. The remaining natural teeth will last longer with a fluoride treatment.
There are products out there that contain small amounts of fluoride. However, they are not as effective. The fluoride treatment we offer is concentrated and done professionally. Patients should expect that they should not eat anything for 30 minutes after the treatment is done. The allocated time will help the teeth absorb the fluoride to make the treatment successful.
If you have any questions about the treatment or you would like to book an appointment, please reach out to us here at Smile Family Dentistry by calling 925-825-1130 today.