- 4771 ROUTE 71, OSWEGO, IL 60543
- (630) 554-8600
One of the best ways to treat dental problems is to prevent them from happening in the first place! We offer a wide range of preventive treatments to keep your teeth healthy and strong. A few simple measures are all it takes to prevent some of the most common dental problems. Ask your dental professional if one of these may help you.
Fluoride treatments can be beneficial for adults as well as children. In children, fluoride varnish is applied to teeth in order to harden enamel and prevent tooth decay. Many adult patients experience prompt relief from cold sensitivity when fluoride is applied to the root surfaces of their teeth. As we age, our gum tissue tends to shrink or “recede”, exposing softer root surfaces called cementum. Not only are these surfaces softer and more susceptible to decay, but they can be very sensitive to cold or sweet foods. Modern fluoride applications are not just for children anymore. More and more adults are having fluoride applied to their teeth during their routine dental cleaning appointments. Please ask your dentist or hygienist if you think that topical fluoride applications may be useful for you.
Decay is caused by dental plaque, a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone’s teeth. When sugar comes in contact with teeth, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. After repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down, and a cavity is formed.
A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where decay occurs most often. This sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the decay-prone areas of the back teeth from plaque and acid.
When the back teeth are developing, depressions and grooves form in the chewing surfaces of the enamel. These irregularities are called pits and fissures. They are impossible to keep clean, because the bristles of a tooth brush cannot reach into them. Therefore, pits and fissures are snug places for plaque and bits of food to hide. By forming a thin covering over the pits and fissures, sealants keep out plaque and food, and thus decrease the risk of decay.
Children receive the greatest benefit from having sealants applied to their teeth, especially to newly erupted permanent teeth. Sealants are recommended for all children, even those who receive topical applications of fluoride or who live in communities with fluoridated water. Fluoride helps fight decay on the smooth surfaces of the teeth, but it is less effective in pits and fissures.
Each tooth takes only a few minutes to seal. First, the teeth that will be sealed are cleaned. The chewing surfaces are then etched (roughened) with a weak acidic solution to help the sealant adhere to the teeth. Finally, the sealant is brushed on the tooth enamel and hardened with a special curing light.
Photos courtesy of the American Dental Association
When sealant is applied, finger-like strands penetrate the pits and fissures of the tooth enamel. Although the sealant cannot be seen with the naked eye, the protective effect of these strands continues. As a result, it may be several years before another application of sealant is needed. Reapplication of the sealant will continue its protection against decay and may save the time and expense of having a tooth restored. Sealants are continually checked during your child’s regular dental visits to determine if reapplication is necessary.
A Snore Guard is an oral appliance that resembles a thin, double-sided athletic mouthpiece. It’s very small and flexible. These have no masks, hoses, or batteries like some conventional sleep apnea devices. Snore Guards are made from a clear acrylic material and are very easy to clean with a regular toothbrush.
This appliance uses normal body reflexes to keep the airway open during sleeping. The device fits snugly on the upper and lower teeth. When the lower jaw relaxes, it gently rocks forward in a normal position, rather than sagging open and back. This keeps the tongue from slumping back into the throat and blocking the airway. Once breathing is eased, normal sleep becomes much easier.
Bite Guards are acrylic (hardened plastic) coverings that protect teeth from damaging each other during periods of grinding or clenching. These guards or “splints” as they are sometimes called, can be worn on the upper or lower teeth, and can be constructed of a hard or soft material. They are usually worn at nighttime, because this is when most people unknowingly grind or clench their teeth. Many patients wake up each morning with headaches or sore jaws. This is often caused by a grinding or clenching motion of the jaws that dentists refer to as: ‘”Bruxism”. Bite guards are easy to wear, and have a high success rate in treating the painful symptoms of bruxism.
Some of the athletes in our practice benefit from a smaller, cushioned ‘Sports Guard”, which helps to help protect the teeth from impact damage. Certain sports, like soccer, football, hockey and basketball can result in severe damage to perfectly healthy teeth. A custom-fitted sports guard is very comfortable and easy to use while speaking.