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FAQ

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) affirms that the use of fluoride as an adjunct in the prevention of caries is safe and effective. The AAPD encourages dentist and other health care providers, public health officials, and parents/ caregivers to optimize fluoride exposures to reduce the risk for caries and to enhance the remineralization of affected tooth structures.

The AAPD recommends;

  • Endorses and encourages the adjustment of fluoride content of public drinking water supplies to optimal levels where feasible.
  • Endorses the supplementation of a child’s diet with fluoride according to established guidelines when fluoride levels in public drinking water are sub-optimal and after consideration of sources of dietary fluoride and the caries risk of the child.
  • Encourages the brushing of teeth with appropriate amounts of fluoride toothpaste twice daily for all children.11
  • Encourages the application of professional fluoride treatments for all individuals at risk for dental caries.
  • Recognizes that drinking fluoridated water and brushing with fluoridated toothpaste twice daily are the most effective method in reducing dental caries prevalence in children.
  • Encourages dental providers to talk to parents and caregivers about the benefits of fluoride and to proactively address fluoride hesitance through chair-side and community education.

ALL THAT SAID ABOUT FLUORIDE, IF PARENTS STILL DON'T WANT FLUORIDE, THEN WE DO NOT USE FLUORIDE!

The term dental prophylaxis encompasses several techniques that are used by dental personnel to professionally remove plaque, stain, and calculus from patients’ teeth. Often, the toothbrush coronal polish (i.e., toothbrush and toothpaste) is a procedure that is used to remove plaque from tooth surfaces and demonstrate brushing techniques to caregivers for young children and for patients with special needs who cannot tolerate the use of a rubber cup. The rubber cup coronal polish is a procedure in which a dental polishing paste is applied to tooth surfaces with a rotary rubber cup or rotary bristle brush to remove plaque and stains from teeth.

Professional prophylaxis is indicated to: Instruct the caregiver and child or adolescent in proper oral hygiene techniques. Remove dental plaque, extrinsic stain, and calculus deposits from the teeth. Facilitate the examination of hard and soft tissues. Introduce dental procedures to the young child and apprehensive patient.

A patient’s risk for caries/periodontal disease helps determine the interval for recall. Those who exhibit higher risks should have recall visits more frequently than every six months.

Dental caries, periodontal disease, dentoalveolar trauma, and other pathological orofacial conditions, left untreated, can limit substantially a child’s development and quality of life. Therefore, a child should be considered to have a dental disability if orofacial pain, infection, or pathological condition and/or lack of functional dentition affect nutritional intake, growth and development, or participation in life activities.

Dental caries, periodontal diseases, and other oral conditions, if left untreated, can lead to pain, infection, and loss of function. These undesirable outcomes can adversely affect learning, communication, nutrition, and other activities necessary for normal growth and development. Dental neglect is willful failure of parent or guardian to seek and follow through with treatment necessary to ensure a level of oral heath essential for adequate function and freedom from pain and infection.

According to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, parents should take their kids from the age of one year old to a Children dentist. The dental Office to Home Care is the ongoing relationship between the dentist, the patient and the patient's parents or family, inclusive of all aspects of oral health care delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated, and family-centered way. The dental home should be established no later than 12 months of age to help children and their families institute a lifetime of good oral health. A dental office to home care addresses anticipatory guidance and preventive, acute, and comprehensive oral health care and if necessary it even includes referral to other dental specialists when appropriate.