Although tooth decay is largely preventable, it’s still the most common chronic disease in children. And while fluoride plays a key role in strengthening tooth enamel and preventing decay, parents often opt out of in-office fluoride treatments due to the lack of dental insurance and concerns over cost. Here’s why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that all children, at risk for decay, receive professional fluoride treatments and how a dental discount plan can make these crucial services affordable for your family.
Benefits vs Cost of Fluoride Treatments
When fluoride is applied directly to the teeth, it incorporates into the outer layer of enamel, making it harder and more resistance to bacterial “acid attacks” that cause tooth decay. In addition, topical fluoride can help stop early decay by remineralizing and repairing enamel.
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If tooth-colored fillings are used, the fees can range from $90 to $450. These comparisons are proof positive that the money spent on fluoride treatments can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.
Benefits of Fluoride Treatments for Adults
As an adult, you probably think the “cavity prone” years are behind you, but in fact, many adults have medical or oral health conditions that increase their risk for tooth decay. If you are dealing with any of the following, fluoride treatments now may help you avoid expensive dental work later.
• Receded gums, due periodontal disease, expose the roots, making them susceptible to root
Researchers have shown that there are several ways through which fluoride achieves its decay-preventive effects. It makes the tooth structure stronger, so teeth are more resistant to acid attacks. Acid is formed when the bacteria in plaque break down sugars and carbohydrates from the diet. Repeated acid attacks break down the tooth,
The severity of warfare engrains an everlasting memory into the minds of those whom may experience it. Two novels that exemplify the effects of war are The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway and For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemmingway. In the first novel, Galloway follows three individuals who live within the war-torn city of Sarajevo and encounter personal struggles whilst trying to survive the devastating conditions. In comparison, Robert Jordan, an American explosives expert, be-friends a squad of guerillas when he is tasked with destroying a bridge in the heart of Spain and must deal with conflict that his squad faces. Both authors showcase
In the first decade of the 1900’s, the United States is beginning a progressive movement and increasing involvement with foreign affairs. The president during this time Theodore Roosevelt, a republican, was one of the first modern presidents the United States had encountered and he began to not only expand the power of the presidency but also industry, business and military. This time period in the United States was know as Imperialism. Roosevelt felt like the only way to expand the US power was to strengthen the Navy and create ports throughout the sea for worldwide trade. Artist William Allen Rogers, a prolific artist during this time saw what Roosevelt was doing and drew a political cartoon of Roosevelt marching across the Caribbean Sea with his “Big Stick”, this piece was known as: “The Big Stick in the Caribbean Sea”. Big Stick diplomacy contributed to the lasting effects on the world; many presidents used this idea and expanded imperialism; the use of Roosevelt’s idea result in many foreign affair and wars involving the United States.
The measured add-on of fluoride to the public water supply to decrease tooth decay is water fluoridation. Depending on where the water is coming from, most water supplies has a naturally happening fluoride concentration, but is generally low and does not help. To help, fluoride is being added into public water at a continuous concentration to reach that naturally occurring limit and no more. There are advantages to fluoride being added to the public water, but there are also controversial disadvantages.
This report investigates about water fluoridation, and its effects and why it is added to water. Water fluoridation is a process where fluoride is added to public drinking water. The main purpose of this is to reduce tooth decay. The dosage that is added to the water is paramount to stopping tooth decay. This process can only be achieved by physically adding the fluoride to the drinking water. When the fluoridated water is drunk it acts on the surface of the teeth building up the enamel. It also leaves low levels of fluoride in the saliva. This also reduces the decaying rate of the teeth. This practice is common among developed countries. This is where the rate of tooth decay is high.
You probably know how important fluoride is to your teeth, which is why we can offer fluoride treatments and varnishes at your checkup. These allow fluoride to penetrate deep into the enamel, helping to prevent tooth decay and strengthening your teeth.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay have changed from 0.7 -1.2 milligrams per liter stablished in 1962 to 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. This change was the result of a systematic reviews of the scientific evidence related community water fluoridation since it was incorporated in 1945. As a result of community water fluoridation there was an increase in the percentage of children who were caries-free and a significant decreases in the number of teeth or tooth surfaces with caries in both children and adult. The main reason to lower the recommendation was because Americans nowadays have more sources of fluoride than the ones
Fluoride is the ionic form of the element fluorine and is the 13th most abundant element in the earth's crust. Chemically, fluoride is negatively charged and combines with positive ions to form stable compounds such as calcium fluoride or sodium fluoride. Such fluorides are released into the environment naturally in the form of both water and air. Generally, when the term fluoride is mentioned, thoughts associated with calcified tissues (i.e., bones and teeth) are provoked. This is likely due to fluoride’s high affinity for calcium, enabling its ability to inhibit or even reverse the initiation and progression of dental caries, otherwise known as tooth decay. Caries are an infectious, multifactorial disease afflicting most persons
Since its introduction in the 1940s, fluoridation has been the focal point of debate. Fluoridation supporters say that the procedure is safe and beneficial for preventing tooth decay and diseases, especially in poor younger children.
Visiting a dentist, in most cases, is not exactly an event that someone looks forward to. Oral hygiene is important in making sure that no problems arise for teeth, however, and the issue of unhealthy teeth has been combatted by advertisements, and more recently, the additive of fluoride into tap water. Fluoride has been important in the process of improving the dental health of Americans; after the addition of fluoride into tap water, tooth decay decreased drastically among Americans and most significantly among young children. It’s argued, however, that fluoride is dangerous, not required, and a violation of someone 's rights by being added to water. In reality, fluoride is a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay by being added
For the past 60 years that fluoride has been widely added, there has been little testing to conclude it as beneficial as originally touted. It has been shown hoever that tooth decay in low-income areas has not dropped since its addition. The Center f Disease Control and Prevention has finally come out with an admission that swallowing fluoride does not protect our teeth. Its most effective application is topical and not systemic. Therefore, toothpaste is a better source of fluoride rather than ingesting it through the water
The Centers for Disease Control have proclaimed water fluoridation as one the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century (ADA 2010). Although water fluoridation has sparked a great deal of controversy, properly fluoridated water has been proven to be safe and effective (Harding & O’Mullane, 2013). Proper water fluoridation includes consistent monitoring of fluoride concentrations to keep them at safe levels, within 0.8 – 1.0ppm (Harding & O’Mullane, 2013). When these measures are taken, fluoridated water is a great preventive measure and helps to improve or maintain the oral health of a population. Community water fluoridation is also very cost effective and helps with preventing dental caries. By implementing community water
Varnish fluoride can protect your child’s dental health as soon as their first tooth appears. Problems and concerns associated with earlier fluoride forms are not present in varnish fluoride, giving you more peace of mind as a parent. Additionally, evidence shows varnish fluoride has positive effects when treating adults with high risk factors for tooth decay.
i. Although defenders of fluoride continue to claim that there are no dangers in using fluoride for dental care, the facts speak for themselves. Dr. Edward Group, who in his 2015 article “The Dangers of Fluoride” stated that “Every year Poison Control centers receive thousands of calls from people
Removing fluoride from consumer products’ benefits human health, prevent low IQ’s, and rids the notion that it helps cavities. Fluoride combines the element fluorine with another substance, generally a metal (“Water”1). Once in the body, fluoride absorbs into the blood through the digestive tract. They collectively accumulate where areas high in calcium take place, such as bones and teeth (“Water”1). Over the years, since inception, many people have questioned why fluoride continues to remain integrated into the water and consumer products in general. Many toothpaste brands have fluoride in it, and dentist claims it aids in preventing cavities, although there is research that will explain that