For children, cavities are a common problem that begins at an early age. Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of U.S. children aged 2–5 and half of those aged 12–15. Untreated cavities can cause pain, dysfunction, and absence from school, and poor appearance—problems that can greatly affect a child’s quality of life.
Tooth decay is also a problem for U.S. adults, especially for the increasing number of older adults who have retained most of their teeth. Despite this increase in tooth retention, tooth loss remains a problem among older adults. One-fourth of adults over age 65 have lost all of their teeth—primarily because of tooth decay, which affects more than 90% of adults over age 40, and advanced gum disease, which affects 5%–11% of adults. Tooth loss can affect self-esteem, and it may contribute to nutrition problems by limiting the types of food that a person can eat.
Diseases of the mouth and throat, which range from cavities to cancer, can cause pain and disability for millions of Americans each year. This fact is disturbing because almost all oral diseases are largely preventable.
In addition, oral cancers pose a threat to the health of U.S. adults. In 2007, an estimated 34,000 people learned that they had mouth or throat cancer, and more than 7,550 died of these diseases.
Dental Hygiene appointment: our Dental Hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach our patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. You can expect your hygiene appointment to last approximately 50 min. Hygienists examine each patient’s teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities. They remove calculus, stains, and plaque from teeth; perform root planning as a periodontal therapy; place antibiotics; take dental x rays; and apply cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. Our Dental Hygienists also help all our patients develop and maintain good oral health. For example, they may explain the relationship between diet and oral health or inform patients how to select toothbrushes and show them how to brush and floss their teeth.
Dental sealants: a plastic coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, are a safe, effective way to prevent cavities among school children. In some cases, sealants can even stop tooth decay that has already started. Sealants significantly reduce a child’s risk for having cavities.
Fluoride: use of fluoride has been a major factor in the decline in the prevalence and severity of dental caries (i.e., tooth decay) in the United States and other economically developed countries. When used appropriately, fluoride is both safe and effective in preventing and controlling dental caries. |
