Prophylaxis

Scaling and Polish

Tooth decay and gum disease (periodontal disease) are the biggest cause of tooth loss in adults, which emphasises the importance of maintaining a good oral hygiene routine. If gum disease is left untreated, it can lead to sore, swollen and bleeding gums, not to mention bad breath. Your overall health is also affected by your oral health, with gum disease being linked to heart disease, strokes and diabetes.

At The Dental Practice we help patients to maintain high levels of oral health. Regular scaling and polish can help to ensure that your teeth and gums stay clean and healthy, as the procedure will remove the build-up of plaque, which may otherwise lead to gum disease. Scaling and Polish procedure involves the removal of tartar for healthy gums. It consists of the use of an ultrasonic scaler for stain elimination.

If you are looking to have a hygiene clean which leaves your gums feeling healthy, your breath feeling minty fresh and removal of minimal staining, then this is the hygiene clean treatment for you.

Our dentists will be able to advise you on the most effective teeth cleaning methods to practice

Fluoride Varnish

Fluoride varnish is widely used as a preventative measure against dental caries (tooth decay) and helps keep teeth healthy.

What is fluoride varnish?

Fluoride varnish is a liquid which contains a high concentration of fluoride. It may also come in the form of a gel. A thin layer is applied directly to the teeth. It then hardens and releases fluoride into the enamel.

Fluoride is a mineral which helps strengthen tooth enamel, thereby making teeth more resistant to decay. Fluoride is found in many children’s toothpastes.

Benefits of fluoride varnish

Tooth decay in children is a big problem throughout the world.

Fluoride varnish treatment has been proven to reduce the prevalence of dental caries in milk and permanent teeth. It’s particularly effective for children who are at high risk of decay and who are not exposed to fluoride from other sources.

Regular fluoride varnish application reduces the risk of cavities. Applying fluoride varnish can also help reverse early signs of tooth decay (white spot lesions).

Fluoride varnish treatment is quick, simple, and non-invasive.

Another preventive treatment often offered to children with permanent teeth is fissure sealant. This fills in deep grooves and pits in the biting surfaces of the teeth, making them easier to clean and reducing the chances of decay.

Fluoride Varnish for Adults

Fluoride varnish can also be beneficial for adults and the treatment may be recommended for adults who:

• Suffer from sensitive teeth
• Have thin tooth enamel or significant enamel erosion, for example from teeth grinding
• Have chronic tooth decay

Fluoride varnish application

Fluoride varnish treatment can be carried out as soon as a baby’s first milk tooth appears. It is recommended that children are treated every six months from age 3. More frequent treatment may be recommended for children who already have tooth decay or are at high risk of developing it.

The application process differs a little for children and adults.

For children, it usually involves drying the teeth with a cotton wool roll and then applying the varnish with a small brush to coat the teeth.

For adults, the dentist may first perform a teeth cleaning to remove all plaque from the teeth, before drying them and applying the varnish.

In any case, the fluoride varnish application itself should take no more than a minute or two, and it is completely pain-free. Fluoride varnish has a pleasant, fruity taste and smell, and it sets quickly once applied to the teeth.

After application

For the varnish to be most effective, you or your child may be instructed to:

• Avoid eating or drinking anything for 30 minutes following treatment
• Wait until the next morning before brushing your teeth
• Avoid crunchy, hard and chewy foods for the rest of the day, since these can scrape some of the varnish off
• Eat and drink only cold and warm foods and drinks – nothing hot

The next day, you can go back to eating and brushing your teeth as normal.

These are general guidelines only; you should follow any other advice given by our dentist administering the treatment.

How long does fluoride varnish last?

The varnish will start to wear away when you brush your teeth and will be completely gone within a few days. By then, the fluoride has already penetrated the dental enamel. It will continue to protect the teeth for several months.

It’s important to brush teeth well in addition to fluoride varnish

Fluoride varnish should be re-applied every six months, or sooner if recommended by our dentist.

You should not rely on fluoride varnish alone to keep teeth healthy. It’s important to brush twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste and age-suitable kids toothbrush, and minimise consumption of sugary snacks and drinks.