Saturday, August 23, 1997

New techniques, old fashioned hygiene improve teeth

By GRETCHEN WALTERS
NEWS-JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

New trends in dentistry include using sealants for cavity prevention, new and improved filling materials, fluoride additives and how to teach children good oral hygiene.

In addition, lasers are being implemented for some dental procedures.

Local dentists and hygienists agree the key to preventing cavities begins before a child´s first tooth emerges.

Mouth care should begin at birth. After each feeding, caregivers should gently wipe the baby´s gums with a soft, damp washcloth or gauze pad.

As children grow older, cavity risks increase. Careful monitoring of what children eat and drink, as well as care for their teeth, reduces risks of decay.

Dr. Steve Lester, a dentist whose office is at 104 E. Park Ave., Edgewater, warns parents about the hazards of "nursing bottle mouth," which can occur when a baby is put to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or juice.

He says that, if a baby needs a bottle as a pacifier, then plain water should be used.

Karen Blackman, a dental hygienist for Dr. Theodore Grabiak, whose office is at 235 N. Causeway, offers this important tip for parents:

"Anything kept in the mouth for more than 10 seconds should be avoided."

Blackman, the daughter of Dr. Grabiak, grew up in the world of dentistry. She said the most harmful substances for teeth include soda, drinks with high fructose, and concentrated juices.

"Parents should check the labels of products they buy," she advised. "Many items have so much sugar in them. Fructose is a high sugar concentrate. I recommend buying products labeled `sugarless.´ "

Hard candy and cough drops also are not good for teeth, she said. Blackman suggested checking labels carefully.

Last on her cavity hit list is another children´s favorite -- bubble gum.

Getting children to brush and floss their teeth is sometimes a trial in itself.

The best way to get children to brush is start the habit early.

Dr. Lester said, as far as age goes, a good rule of thumb to follow is having the child start brushing after they´ve gotten their eighth tooth.

Child-sized, soft bristled toothbrushes with a dab of children´s fluoride toothpaste can be used.

The best time for brushing is after eating. However, with school and other activities, that may not be convenient.

Brenda Mitchum is Blackman´s sister and fellow dental hygienist at Dr. Grabiak´s office. She says the most important time to have children brush is before they go to bed.

"Before bed is the most important time for brushing," she said.

Then, it´s first thing in the morning and after meals. We´ve suggested that, if a child can´t brush after lunch, he should at least rinse his mouth out with water."

Dr. Lester suggested that dentist visits begin for children as early as 1 year old. "It´s a way to get in touch with parents," he said. "It´s not so much to examine the child, but to talk to parents about proper nutrition and oral hygiene care."

Regular visits for check-ups should begin when the child reaches 2 or 3 years old. Then children should visit their dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleaning.

"A tip for parents who want to ease a child´s fear of going to the dentist is to have them accompany them when they go get a check-up or cleaning," Dr. Lester said.

Fluoride awareness is a trend dentists are seeing. Fluoride is an important factor in strengthening tooth enamel, which makes it resistant to decay. The main source of fluoride comes from fluoridated water.

Edgewater and Oak Hill do not have fluoridated water. To supplement fluoride for those who prefer drinking bottled water or who live in areas of Southeast Volusia without fluoridated water, pediatricians or dentists can prescribe individualized supplements.

Brushing with an American Dental Association approved fluoride toothpaste and rinsing with mouthwash also helps prevent decay.

Sealants are a new trend for preventing tooth decay.

"Sealants have been around since the 1960s," Lester said. "They´re very strong and do the job."

They seal out the decay. Sealants are a clear, plastic material painted on the chewing surface of the back teeth. The material soaks into the bumps and grooves of the tooth and prevents decay, he said.

Children should begin getting sealants as soon as the chewing surface pops through the gum, Lester said.

The cost isn´t cheap, however. Sealants cost from $10-$25 per tooth and most dentists suggest that 8-10 teeth be coated.

"Less dental work is better than more dental work," Lester said. "If parents spend a little money to assure their children´s teeth won´t get decay, it´s a commitment for better teeth."

So what are dentists using to fill in cavities? Dr. Lester says that a porcelain type, natural colored bonding is commonly used today.

Another type of filling, is silver amalgam. New to the market is air abrasion.

"For lack of a better term, it´s like sandblasting a cavity out of the tooth," Dr. Lester explained. "It´s a replacement for the drill. It´s noiseless, which is part of the psychological fear of the drill. You don´t even need Novocaine with the procedure."

On the leading edge of dental technology is the laser. Lester said laser dentistry has been approved for those 18 and older by the Food and Drug Administration. More testing must be done for minors.

The way laser works is, the beam is shot into the tooth and it literally melts away what is decayed.

Unfortunately, the product is not available in our area, Lester said. It´s an expensive piece of equipment.

However, some oral surgeons may have the equipment for gum surgeries.

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