Quick tip to reduce cavities by as much as 70%...

Sealants are clear or white plastic coatings that are applied to the surface of the permanent teeth.  If you have ever noticed, your teeth are not flat, they have pits and grooves.  These pits are more susceptible to bacteria causing decay.

Most dentists recommend sealants be applied as soon as the permanent teeth come in.  Children receive the most benefit from having sealants applied to newly erupted teeth.  Each tooth takes only a few minutes to be sealed.

To apply a sealant, a liquid or gel is placed to the top surface of the tooth.  This liquid is washed and the tooth is dried.  The plastic coating is then applied and harded with a blue light.

The entire process is painless and easy for children.  The American Dental Association states that sealants play an important role in prevention of tooth decay.  Research has shown that sealants can reduce cavities by as much as 70%.  The sealants last from 2-5 years and can be redone when necessary.

Brighton Family Dental Group
861 Brighton Rd
Tonawanda, NY 14150
(716) 836-4590 

My Tooth is Loose

Dr. Isaac Schour and Dr. Maury Massler wrote a paper in 1941 called “The Development of the Human Dentition.” Not much has changed as far as the sequence of tooth eruption.

Babies have to contend with the pain as the new teeth break through the gums.  As each tooth comes in, the gums become very irritated and inflamed. A cold teething ring may help reduce the pain.

Eruption times (time when teeth come in) vary in children even within the same family.  The bottom front teeth are usually the first to come in at around 8-12 months.  The other baby teeth come in over time all the way until age 3.

The soreness in the gums does not only happen in infants but as we lose our baby teeth.  Older children can usually take the pain when baby teeth come out because they are rewarded by the tooth fairy.  The first primary (baby) teeth fall out about age 6, again this varies in children.  As the jaws grow, the baby teeth roots dissolve from the pressure of the permanent teeth coming in.  This process continues into the teenage years.  If a primary tooth is lost too early, either from decay or trauma, a space maintainer may be recommended to prevent crowding so the permanent tooth can take its rightful place.