What are dental sealants? Do my kids need them?

Sealants are a great way to protect against tooth decay and cavities on your back teeth (molars). These are the teeth that are most vulnerable to cavities and decay because they are used in the chewing process, and are the most difficult to reach and clean. Molars first come in at around 5-7 years of age, with a second set coming in between the ages of 11-14. It is best to have a sealant placed when the molars first come in to ensure they are protected early. To place a sealant an adhesive is first applied to the teeth. The sealant is then placed over the adhesive as a liquid, as if it is painted right onto the tooth. The liquid then hardens and creates a barrier between your tooth and any plaque, food particles, and bacteria. Sealants last for about 10 years and can be reapplied if necessary.

What is soft tissue management?

Soft tissue management or nonsurgical periodontal therapy is based upon the current concepts of the dental plaque and the nature of periodontal disease progression. It is the initial step in the management of adult periodontal patients. STM can be done by the general dentist and/or the hygienist. When done properly with the appropriate use of the ultrasonic, antibiotics, irrigation (in the office and the home) and regular recalls to the dentist, it can produce marked improvement in the periodontal health of the patients and can be a very rewarding experience for the dentist and the hygienist, and above all the patient

Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective, non-surgical ways to treat gum disease before it becomes severe. Scaling and root planing cleans between the gums and the teeth down to the roots.

Scaling is basically the process of removing dental tartar from the surfaces of the teeth. Root planing is the process of smoothing out the root surfaces and removing any infected tooth structure. If you have gum disease or gum pocketing, the gum pockets around the teeth will have deepened, thereby allowing tartar deposits to form under the gum line.

A careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus (tartar) from deep periodontal pockets and smoothing the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins will help ensure that your gum disease is controlled.