Fluoride treatment is a preventive dental protocol common in pediatric dentistry to care for teeth enamel. Fluoride is a natural mineral, typically present in foods, necessary for building strong teeth. Dentists in Morristown use fluoride to strengthen teeth before forming a cavity or a lingering infection.
Professional fluoride treatment entails more concertation of fluoride than is contained in fluoride toothpaste. The dentist applies the varnish on your teeth, and in a few minutes, your enamels will have absorbed enough minerals. Although fluoride treatment is common for children’s teeth, adults too can benefit from it. Dental experts will often recommend it as a preventive measure to protect your teeth from infections like tooth caries.
What Do Fluoride Treatments Do?
Fluoride treatments enrich teeth enamel by improving mineral absorption. The goal of the treatment is to create a protective layer of minerals that sustain strong teeth. Further, fluoride treatment near you can increase your teeth’ resistance to bacteria that cause dental cavities and tooth decay. Technically, you do not have to wait until you have decayed teeth to visit your dentist. Dental experts recommend getting the treatment if you are at a high risk of dental cavities. Some of the factors that indicate you need fluoride treatment are:
- Sensitive teeth
- Weak tooth enamel
- Consuming alcohol
- Smoking tobacco
- Poor oral hygiene
- Dry mouth syndrome – significantly reducing the amount of saliva in your mouth.
What Are the Different Types of Fluoride?
When enquiring about fluoride treatments near you, do not downplay the misconceptions about the treatment. They may significantly impact your decision for dental care. The types of fluoride matter because they are not all equal. A proper understanding of the types of fluoride will help you regulate the amount you expose to your natural teeth. In that case, what are the different types of fluoride at Dental Care of Morristown:
- Calcium fluoride – is a natural fluoride typically found in soil. Therefore, consuming any natural or spring water will provide calcium fluoride to your teeth. However, the amount of calcium fluoride in natural or spring water is insufficient for sustaining strong, healthy teeth. Still, excessive consumption of calcium fluoride can be harmful to your health, resulting in issues like skeletal fluorosis and deformities due to calcification of the joints.
- Sodium fluoride – is a synthetic fluoride present in consumer products like drinking water or pesticides. In the early 1940s, sodium fluoride was the component used in tap water, which has since changed to a new compound called sodium fluoride.
What Does Professional Fluoride Contain?
For many decades, professional fluoride methods have capitalized on regulated concentrations of sodium fluoride disposable trays. However, modern dentistry has evolved the treatment protocols so that today, the treatment entails acidulated phosphate fluoride gels. Ideally, when sodium and acidulated phosphate fluoride combine, they form calcium fluoride on your teeth’ enamels.
Is Fluoride Treatment Worth It?
Many fluoride treatments cost between $20 -$50, which most dental insurances cover. However, inquire with your insurance company about the coverage for the treatment. Still, some patients hesitate about getting fluoride for their teeth, given the potential complications that can result from it. One way to be confident about fluoride for teeth is considering the benefits of the treatment, including the following:
- Reversing early cases of cavities – dental cavities may begin forming without your knowledge, especially if you are not keen to examine your teeth occasionally. Dental fluoride can combat the formation of the cavities ensuring they do not develop further.
- Increasing resistance to bacteria – harmful bacteria in your mouth does not damage your teeth at once. It takes time to breach the different layers of teeth. Fluoride varnish creates an extra layer of protection on teeth, preventing easy entry of bacteria to the internal layers.
- Building strong and healthy teeth – mineralization boosts the strength of teeth, preventing the wearing down of tooth enamel.
- Early detection of dental problems – a dentist will not administer fluoride treatment without first evaluating your oral cavity. (S)he can ensure you have no anomalies that may indicate an infection or risk of infection.