Why should I have an in-office fluoride treatment?

Every day our teeth go through a demineralization (dissolving) and re-mineralization (hardening) process as the teeth fight against tooth decay from the acids that are produced by bacteria in our mouth and also acids from foods that we eat.  In order to strengthen the re-mineralization side and lessen the demineralization side of the process, we recommend in-office topical fluoride applications.  Fluoride helps to strengthen the tooth structure and therefore make it more resistant to demineralizing/dissolving/decay.  In-office fluoride applications are a higher concentration of fluoride than what you receive daily in your toothpaste and over the counter fluoride rinses.  Since the fluoride that is applied to your teeth in our office is higher in concentration, this can help to reverse or slow down the decay process in the outer enamel layer of the tooth. 

Areas that are highly susceptible to decay include but not limited to: decalcified areas, white spots, root surfaces, and enamel/dentin areas that are adjacent to dental restorations such as fillings or crowns.

At home you can supplement the in-office topical fluoride applications by using fluoride toothpastes, gels, and rinses.  These products help to continually replenish the fluoride in the tooth structure between your regular visits.  For the best results and taking the optimum preventive measures to resist tooth decay, a combination of in-office topical fluoride applications at your regular visits and the use of home fluoride supplemental products such as toothpaste and rinses is recommended.