Fluoride – What does it do for my teeth?

Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in soil, rocks, air and water. Fluoride has been used in dentistry for its topical effects of strengthening enamel and making it more resistant to dental decay. Fluoride can be delivered in the dental office as a rinse, gel, foam or varnish. It is also found in toothpastes and mouthrinses.

The Canadian Dental Association recommends brushing with fluoridated toothpaste twice per day. In young children who are liable to swallow toothpaste (6 years and under) - it is recommended to avoid fluoridated toothpaste or if the child is at high caries risk to use only the size of a ‘grain of rice’ under close adult supervision. Ingesting too much fluoride can lead to fluoride toxicity, the Maximum Acceptable Concentration is 1.5mg/L.

It can also lead to a condition called Fluorosis, which can look like white or brown flecks on your teeth and can vary in severity.  There have been other associations made between high systemic fluoride intake and bone fracture, cancer and developmental issues however the research is still unclear. This is one of the reasons community water fluoridation is so controversial. The city of Toronto’s water supply is fluoridated at a level of 0.6 parts per million.

Dental Fluorosis – ‘white flaky’ appearance. 

Find further information at these links and make your own informed decision on the subject:
McDonagh Marian S, Whiting Penny F,Wilson Paul M, Sutton Alex J, Chestnutt Ivor,Cooper Jan et al. “Systematic review of water fluoridation” BMJ 2000; 321:855

Stephen Peckham and Niyi Awofeso, “Water Fluoridation: A Critical Review of the Physiological Effects of Ingested Fluoride as a Public Health Intervention,” The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2014, Article ID 293019, 10 pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/293019

http://www.cda-adc.ca/_files/position_statements/fluoride.pdf

Pregnancy and Dentistry

You’re pregnant – what does this mean for your oral health and dental visits? 

During pregnancy, it is imperative to keep your mouth as clean as possible to prevent infections or dental emergencies from appearing. This means brushing at least twice day (after breakfast and just before bed) and flossing at least once a day. If you are planning on getting pregnant, a pre-emptive visit to the dentist to make sure all is healthy in your mouth and to receive oral health tips is recommended.

During pregnancy, the second trimester is the safest to receive dental treatment. It is recommended to visit the dentist at least once during this trimester for a cleaning and to make sure everything in your mouth is healthy! Dental cleanings are completely safe and actually recommended for the pregnant patient. Due to the change in hormones during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of gingivitis.

During the first trimester, it is recommended to avoid all elective procedures, the only dental procedure recommended is emergency treatment – it is safer for the baby to eliminate any source of infections. Oral radiographs, (though they pose an extremely minor risk) should be minimized as well as drug prescription. Overall, maintaining a healthy mouth is the best thing for the pregnant patient.

Modern Crowns

What’s new with crowns?

In terms of crowns or ‘caps’ for single teeth and ‘bridges’ for one or more missing teeth - new materials are being used. Traditionally metal was used for crowns and bridges due to its strength. Then the use of porcelain fused to metal crowns became the material of choice because of their esthetics and strength. The inner layer is metal with a tooth-coloured porcelain outer covering to match the other teeth in the mouth. However, porcelain fused to metal crowns can sometimes have a small gray rim of metal at their base.

The newest crowns can now be made with a ceramic base which is white in colour. Introduced in the last decade, Zirconia has mechanical properties which are the highest reported for any dental ceramic. Zirconia bases can be used with a porcelain outer layer to deliver great esthetic outcomes. Ceramic crowns can either have two layers or just one layer. In our office we have Cerec crowns. These ceramic crowns can be finished in one appointment! Usually a crown requires 1 week fabrication at a dental laboratory. With Cerec the crown is milled in the office at the same appointment! Ask us today if you are a candidate!

Since they are relatively new, only short term follow-up studies have been conducted but they show promising results. Long-term studies are needed to further assess clinical outcomes.