Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that, when absorbed into your teeth, helps to rebuild, and strengthen tooth enamel and even reverse early signs of tooth decay. Stronger enamel provides better resistance against cavities. Fluoride can be found in water, tea, foods prepared in water, and fish prepared with bones. Many larger cities now fluoridate public sources of water. If you are not able to get enough fluoride, fluoride can be applied directly onto the teeth with a professional fluoride treatment at Dr. Crystal Dental.
Fluoride helps prevent decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in your mouth by strengthening the protective enamel. In children under 6 years of age, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of their permanent teeth, making it more difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth. A large study recently found that children who received fluoride treatments for one year were 43% less likely to have tooth decay and cavities. Fluoride helps speed up the remineralization as well as disrupting acid production in already erupted teeth of both children and adults.
We understand that some patients may not be comfortable with the use of Fluoride treatment as part of their preventative program, and we respect that choice. Alternative therapies to Fluoride may be discussed with your family at your dental appointment, and we are happy to share the most up to date practices for Fluoride-Free preventive practices.
The entire team at Dr. Crystal Dental radiates compassion and enthusiasm. Every member embraces your individual comfort and dental needs. We seek balance in our practice, our procedures, and your health. You will find your entire dental experience with us comforting from start to finish. We balance exceptional, personalized dental care with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Call us today at 440-974-4449 to schedule your appointment for an evaluation regarding the benefits of fluoride treatment for you or a child. You can conveniently find us at 7223 Center Street, Mentor, Ohio, 44060.
Every day, minerals are lost and then added back from your teeth's enamel layer through two processes, demineralization, and remineralization. Minerals are lost, demineralization, from the tooth's enamel when acids, formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth, attack the enamel. Minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are redeposited, remineralization, to the enamel from the water and foods you consume. Too much demineralization without the balance of enough remineralization to repair the enamel layer will lead to tooth decay.
Dr. Crystal
Dr. Crystal is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine and went on to receive training at one of the most prestigious dental residencies in the nation, The Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital Advanced Education in General Dentistry in San Antonio, TX.
Inform & Educate
We empower you to make wise, well-informed decisions for your oral health through patient education and individual consultation. We do this through the modern technology we offer. Our digital x-rays are equipped with special cavity-detecting software, and we also utilize an intraoral camera to show you what we see in your mouth. We also make sure to stay up-to-date on your medical history, current medications and any other factors that might affect your dental health and treatment.
Insurance & Billing
We are an insurance-friendly office, so please call us about your plan. We will do our best to assist you in maximizing your benefits. At your first visit to our Mentor dental practice, we will ask you for your current insurance information. We may ask you to confirm this information at subsequent visits so we can stay up-to-date and fully informed to serve you. As a courtesy to you, we file all claim forms electronically, provide postage for special claims, and we track claims for you.
Can You Benefit from a Fluoride Treatment?
Both children and adults can benefit from a fluoride treatment at Dr. Crystal Dental, but it is more often recommended for a child with a higher risk of cavities. It has been documented that the earlier a child is exposed to fluoride, the less likely they are to develop cavities.
It is certainly important for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years to be exposed to fluoride. This is when the primary and permanent teeth come in. However, adults can also benefit from fluoride. New research supports that topical fluoride, from toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments, are as important in fighting tooth decay as in strengthening developing teeth.
Fluoride has several benefits for the teeth:
- For children, it joins into the tooth structure during the development of the teeth to strengthen the enamel, making the teeth less vulnerable to bacteria and cavities.
- It slows or can even reverse the development of cavities by harmful bacteria.
- Fluoride helps your body better use other minerals, such as calcium and phosphate. The teeth reabsorb these minerals to also repair weak tooth enamel.
When taken together, these benefits may help to:
- Reduce, minimize, and even prevent your risk of cavities.
- Will slow the growth of an existing cavity.
- Will delay the need for dental treatment.
- Prolongs the life of baby teeth.
- Can reduce the amount of time you spend with us at Dr. Crystal Dental.
By preventing cavities and slowing the growth of bacteria, fluoride treatment might also:
- Reduce your possibility of tooth pain.
- Prevent the development of gum disease.
- Prevent the premature loss of teeth.
In addition, people with certain health conditions may benefit from fluoride treatments. They include people with:
- Dry mouth conditions: A dry mouth caused by some diseases, or certain medications, such as allergy medications, antianxiety drugs, antihistamines, and high blood pressure drugs, and head and neck radiation treatment can make someone more prone to tooth decay. The simple lack of saliva makes it harder for food particles to be washed away and the acids to be neutralized.
- The presence of dental crowns, bridges, or braces: These treatments can put a tooth at risk for decay at the point where the crown meets the underlying tooth structure or around the brackets of orthodontic appliances.
- Presence of recession or exposed roots: These treatments can help reduce sensitivity to these vulnerable surfaces which are more porous and demineralize/decay at a faster rate then enamel. Fluoride treatments can also reduce the risk of decay by strengthening these exposed root surfaces.
The Fluoride Treatment Procedure
A fluoride treatment is a quick and simple treatment that can be completed in one visit to Dr. Crystal Dental. We will first professionally clean the teeth before any fluoride is applied. The fluoride comes in a highly concentrated form as either a rinse, gel, foam, or varnish. At our office, we use a varnish as it is easily applied with a soft brush and there is no downtime after the procedure is performed. Once the fluoride treatment is finished, you will be asked to brush off until later in the evening to give the fluoride a chance to absorb into the teeth.
The Life Expectancy of a Fluoride Treatment
Depending on your oral health or your child’s, Dr. Crystal Dental might recommend fluoride treatments every 6 to 12 months. If there is a higher risk of developing tooth decay, we could also recommend additional preventive measures, such as additional over the counter or prescription fluoride mouth rinses or gels, or an antibacterial mouth rinse. At this point we might discuss your diet intake, addressing the increased risk of cavities with excessive drug or alcohol use, an eating disorder, poor oral hygiene, or a poor diet.
Comprehensive Dentistry
Comprehensive dentistry with Dr. Crystal Schneider, involves the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the teeth, gums and jaw. She believes that preventive care is the most important aspect of comprehensive dentistry. Dr. Schneider aims to identify and treat problems while they’re still small, which can save you time, money and more extensive dental treatment.
Cosmetic Dentistry
An attractive smile can boost your confidence, help you make better first impressions on others, and improve your personal and professional life. We provide several cosmetic dental treatments that can subtly enhance your smile, and there are many other more dramatic treatments, often called “smile makeovers,” that can give you the smile of your dreams.
Specialized Dentistry
Missing teeth can take the joy out of the everyday things we love, from smiling and talking with confidence to eating our favorite foods. All of these things can become easier again with specialized dental care. Dr. Schneider offers advanced treatments that will not just restore your smile to its former health – they’ll make it look and feel even better than before!
Our Devotion to Family Dentistry is Unparalleled
Our attention to detail is second to none. Either when it comes to your personalized dental care or the array of amenities in the relaxing comfort of our office. The entire team at Dr. Crystal Dental goes the extra mile in providing communication and consultation, realizing that we collectively are committed to developing long lasting relationships with every patient. We find gratification in life changing healthy smiles. Call us now at 440-974-4449 to make an appointment for your personal evaluation and consultation regarding the benefits of a fluoride treatment for you or a youngster. Our office is located at 7223 Center Street, Mentor, Ohio, 44060.