Sealants

Wherever our mouths have crevices, bacteria are able to hide and feed. This is true of our tongues, our gum pockets, and of the indentations between the cusps on our molars and premolars. We take prevention very seriously at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs. Sealants are one of the most common treatments we use to protect patients from the harm of tooth decay and make it easier for them to care for their oral health.

A sealant is a plastic coating that is applied to the grinding surfaces on the back teeth. Besides creating a barrier between acid and enamel, it also smoothens out the tooth just enough to make it easier to brush. The cusps will still be prominent enough to grind food, but less food will get stuck between them.

Patients don’t need to do anything to prepare for sealant placement. After cleaning the teeth, we’ll apply an etching acid to them to increase their surface area and then paint the plastic coating on. The sealant will be hardened with a light, and the patient should be able to eat normally within a few hours. Sealants are commonly recommended for children when their permanent molars come in, but adults can benefit from them, too. A sealant can last for as long as ten years, after which a new one may be applied.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Tooth Sensitivity to Cold

Imagine biting into a fudge-covered ice cream treat only to have a sudden pain shoot through your incisors. Does this sound familiar to you? Is it something you avoid cold food and drinks because of? If so, there’s help. We at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs want all our patients to use their teeth with confidence. If a person is extremely sensitive to cold, they may be suffering from enamel erosion.

It is necessary when discussing tooth sensitivity to know a bit about dental anatomy. Dental pulp contains a nerve, and it is surrounded by a porous material called dentin. Heat is easily conducted through dentin, which depends on enamel to insulate the dental crown. Below the gum line, the outermost layer of the tooth is much thinner and comprised of a sticky substance called cementum. When the enamel is eroded or gum tissue has receded from around cementum, heat may easily leave the pulp anytime the tooth comes into contact with something cold.

Thin enamel can be identified by yellow-brown colored dentin showing through it. Erosion is usually caused by exposure to acid. Oral bacteria secrete acid as a by-product of their metabolism, and people who smoke or eat a large amount of acidic food or red meat are vulnerable to developing acid reflux. Regular brushing is essential to preventing the spread of oral bacteria. Enamel may be remineralized through fluoride therapy or fluoride-enriched toothpaste. We can also provide patients with sealants, protecting the teeth that are most affected by acid reflux and tooth decay.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Sealants for Pediatric Patients

Almost half of all children and adolescents in the United States have had cavities in their permanent teeth.  The doctors at Southern Cross Dental recommend dental sealants for pediatric patients to avoid becoming part of this statistic.  A dental sealant is the best defense against early tooth decay, and preserves teeth and tooth enamel. 

Most tooth decay in children and teenagers occurs on the chewing surfaces of molars, where the pits and grooves tend to trap food and bacteria.  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 on each set of molars when they first come in to ensure they are protected early.

Sealants are applied to surfaces of these molars much like paint. The plastic resin fills any pits and grooves on the surface and hardens. Now the surface is protected from bits of food being stuck, so bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay, and tooth enamel is protected from plaque and acids.  Sealants can effectively prevent cavities for up to ten years and can be reapplied of necessary.

To learn more about sealants and all the services we provide, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.