What are dental sealants and how do they work?

Sealants are clear or shaded plastic applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity-free. Sealants fill in the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth that are hard to clean and also shut out food particles that could get caught, casing cavities. Fast and comfortable to apply, sealants can effectively protect teeth for many years.

If my child gets a toothache, what should I do?

To comfort your child, rinse his/her mouth with warm salt water. If your child's face is swollen, apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. You may give your child acetaminophen for pain, but do not put heat on the sore area or give them aspirin. Call our office as soon as possible.

If my child gets a cavity in a baby tooth, should it still be filled?

Yes! Primary or "baby" teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also hold space that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Some of them are necessary until a child is 12 years old or older. Pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health and premature loss of teeth are just a few problems that can happen when baby teeth are neglected. Also, because tooth decay is really an infection and will spread, decay on baby teeth can cause decay on permanent teeth. Proper care of baby teeth is instrumental in enhancing the health of your child.

What causes tooth decay?

Four things are necessary for cavities to form—a tooth, bacteria, sugars or other carbohydrates, and time. Dental plaque is a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone's teeth. When you eat, the carbohydrates or sugars in your food cause the bacteria in plaque to produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. With time and repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms.

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