We are excited to announce that our office is now open with a limited schedule for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and team members.
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We are excited to announce that our office is now open with a limited schedule for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and team members.
read moreIf you’ve brought your child to a pediatric dentist, chances are you’ve heard of fluoride treatments. At Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we want to make sure all of our parents know about the treatments we suggest for your little ones. Want to stay informed about your child’s dental health and their preventive treatment options? Check out these fluoride treatment FAQs:
Yes! Not only is fluoride completely safe, but it is also one of the most helpful, beneficial compounds in modern dentistry due to its ability to help strengthen teeth. When fluoride was added to tap water in the United States, childhood cavities were reduced by around 50-60%.
Fluoride’s power lies in its unique ability to encourage the remineralization of teeth. Fluoride helps attract minerals like calcium and phosphate to parts of your teeth that have been weakened as a result of demineralization. By doing so, fluoride helps strengthen teeth and prevent cavities, particularly in decayed “soft spots” which are weak, but have not yet formed a hole (cavity) in the tooth.
No. Fluoride treatments are primarily a preventive precaution, and while a fluoride treatment can help reverse extremely minor decay, like the aforementioned soft spots, it cannot be used to treat a cavity. Instead, Dr. Mukund Patel or Dr. Raj Patel will usually recommend a filling or silver-diamine fluoride (SDF) treatment to treat the cavity.
During a fluoride treatment, one of our dentists will paint a fluoride-rich liquid onto each tooth. This liquid is left in place for a few minutes, then rinsed away to remove excess fluoride from the teeth. Then, the high levels of fluoride help attract healthy minerals to the enamel, and strengthen the tooth over time.
For children, fluoride treatments are almost always covered by dental insurance as a preventative procedure. Even if you and your family do not have dental insurance, we offer a wide range of patient resources to ensure that preventive treatment is within your budget.
Side effects from excessive fluoridation can include white specks on teeth and staining or pitting of the teeth. However, this is extremely rare and requires a very high level of continuous fluoridation of the teeth. If you follow our instructions for caring for your child’s teeth, there is no risk of these issues.
If you need to see a pediatric dentist in Yardley, Bensalem or Warrington, Sea of Smiles Dentistry is here to help. Contact us now at (267) 392-5878 to schedule an appointment at one of our three conveniently-located offices, and make sure your child gets the treatment they need to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
