Are Fluoride Treatments Helpful?

Fluoride was discovered to keep teeth healthy in the middle 20th century; since then, fluoride has been included as an important part of dental health and treatments. According to research, fluoride is crucial for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years. Topical fluoride treatments and products are vital in the fight against tooth decay for developing teeth.

Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens enamel, the outer layer of the tooth, making it more resistant to bacterial acids that cause tooth decay. Fluoride can also repair some of the damage done in the very early stages of the decay.

Who Needs Fluoride?

Fluoride is delivered in one of two forms, topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is a fluoride treatment applied to the outside of the teeth, such as toothpaste or professional fluoride treatment. Systemic fluoride is that which is consumed, such as fluoridated water and fluoridated supplements.

Although everyone should brush with a toothpaste containing fluoride, exposure to fluoride is especially vital for teeth and gum health in developing teeth. Fluoride treatments are most helpful for the high risk population of infants and children, and particularly those too young to be responsible for their own oral health.

Some medical or health conditions, can put patients in an at-risk category. Fluoride treatments are particularly helpful for people experiencing the following:

• Dry Mouth: Dry mouth, or xerostomia, can be caused by various diseases, medications – including allergy medications and anti-anxiety drugs – and medical treatments, such as head and neck radiation treatment. These conditions can reduce the presence of saliva naturally produced in the mouth, allowing food particles, bacteria and acids to remain on the teeth and erode enamel. 
• Periodontal Disease: Also known as gum disease, or periodontitis, this disease can cause gums to recede and leaves the soft tissue and tooth roots open to a bacterial attack, which increases the chance of tooth decay under the gum line. 
• Dental Appliances: Any fixed appliance or metal bracket can challenge the integrity of teeth by making it more difficult the keep areas free of debris and bacteria. 
• History of Dental Caries: People who experience cavities frequently or whose family history includes a history of dental caries will benefit from additional fluoride treatments. 

For personalized advice, or more detailed information on how fluoride can benefit your dental wellbeing, contact your Victoria dentist to schedule an appointment.

What about Overdentures?

Using dental implants to secure dentures and crowns has become increasingly recognized as an excellent solution to replacing missing teeth. Overdentures – dentures that are secured using dental implants – provide a secure base for new teeth, in addition to numerous other benefits.

Overdentures refer to a denture treatment option in which partial or complete dentures are fixed in place with the use of dental implants. The implants take the place of a tooth’s natural root and fuse to the jaw bone, so the attached dentures sit closely against the gum and function like natural teeth. Overdentures can be placed on as few as two dental implants depending on the patient’s oral health and bone density.

Implants

Dental implant placement is a minimally-invasive procedure during which titanium posts are surgically embedded in place of the tooth’s root. The posts begin to integrate with the surrounding bone; over time, the implants invigorate and strengthen the mouth structure, encouraging bone growth. After the site has healed, a customized crown or set of dentures is fixed onto the implant using an abutment and the patient is able to regain full dental functionality.

Benefits

Overdentures offer many benefits, including:

• Reliable bite – restores chewing and biting, helps people digest their food properly
• Designed to fit comfortably, less gum discomfort or irritation
• Don’t interfere with speaking or smiling
• Long-term investment – less gum disease, fewer repairs/replacements than traditional dentures, and overall less cost
• Existing dentures might be modified as overdentures
• Minimally-invasive treatment and rapid recovery
• Improves appearance of the smile, and boosts self-confidence.

Types of Overdentures

Overdentures can help people who are missing some or all of their permanent teeth. There are three types of overdentures available:

1. Implant-Retained, Gum-Supported: removable dentures that lay flush against the gums, retained by implants in the upper and/or lower jaw. The dentures are attached using a “snap” and socket design.
2. Bar-Retained, Implant-Supported: these dentures are secured to a small metal bar which is attached to implants. The denture is connected directly to the bar using attachments and is removable for regular cleanings. 
3. Fixed, Implant-Supported: this denture combines the overdenture and the bar into a single piece that attaches to implants by using screws, to creates a permanent denture. Fixed, implant-supported overdentures cannot be removed by the patient and must be removed by a dental professional for regular cleanings. 

Only a dentist is able to say for certain what type of denture is right for their patient, but implant technology has advanced so much since it first became available that more and more people qualify as candidates for the treatment.

If you have missing teeth or are in need of an extraction, please contact the Victoria dental office of Dr. Lisa Heinrich-Null to schedule an appointment to learn about your replacement options.

Lumineers® and Porcelain Veneers

A healthy, attractive smile speaks volumes. In fact, our smiles have a huge impact on our self-confidence, our social interactions, and even affect how others see us! In the search for a beautiful smile, some solutions may seem to offer the same outcome, but actually differ in specific areas.

Both porcelain veneers and Lumineers® are used to cosmetically alter the appearance of teeth – they are effective treatments for correcting gaps between teeth, changing their length, and covering stains. 

Cosmetic Improvements

Lumineers® and porcelain veneers help create a more symmetrical and aesthetically appealing smile by making minor changes to the natural tooth. They are often used in cosmetic dentistry to address imperfections, such as:

• Damaged/chipped teeth
• Crooked or misshapen teeth
• Short teeth.

Lumineers®

Lumineers® are extremely thin and are placed directly onto the tooth. The cosmetic treatment doesn’t change the structure of the tooth and the original enamel remains intact, also referred to as no-prep veneers. Lumineers® offer a more uniform, straighter smile but because they are wafer thin they are not ideal for teeth with dark stains.

The treatment usually involves two appointments. During the first appointment, impressions are taken from which a mold is developed. It is then used to customize and shape the Lumineers® in a lab before they are bonded to the surface of the tooth. The bonding and placement process usually takes less than an hour during the second visit. 

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are likewise very thin shells of porcelain that don’t add any bulk to the teeth. Used to fill small gaps, veneers offer a uniform and beautiful white smile. Porcelain is stain resistant and its strength and durability make it the perfect material for cosmetic dentistry. Veneers can also be color matched to neighboring teeth.

Placing veneers is a minimally-invasive procedure and patients’ teeth are prepped during the first of two visits. A small portion of the top layer – the enamel – is removed, so that the veneer lays flat against the surface when placed. Veneers are created in a lab and bonded into place at the second visit.

Both Lumineers® and porcelain veneers are long-lasting options for people who want to improve the appearance of their smile. Before making a choice of one over the other, it’s best to talk to Dr. Heinrich-Null about the pros and cons of each and come to an informed decision with the help of a professional.

Contact our Victoria dental office for more information or to schedule an appointment.