What are Sealants For?

With the approach of the school year, many parents are eager to make sure their children’s teeth are in good condition. Toothaches are a common reason for children’s sleep and behavior problems, and general dentists can provide preventive care as well as repair. But one of the most common forms of preventive dentistry, the application of sealants, works for adults as well as children. At Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay dental office, we’re pleased to offer sealants for the protection of our patients’ teeth, and we especially want adults who have a history of tooth decay to know how they can benefit.

 

Sealants are shields that are applied to the grinding surfaces of the molars and premolars. Those teeth have multiple raised bits, called cusps, with indentations between them. The indentations commonly become caked in food debris, particularly starches, making them good spots for oral bacteria to grow in. These parts of the teeth can also be difficult to brush effectively, allowing the acid by-product of oral bacteria to settle into indentations and create bigger cracks. However, sealants smooth out the teeth’s grinding surfaces and create a barrier between the enamel and the food debris. They leave the teeth textured enough to fulfill their function, but slow the rate of decay.

 

Application of sealants doesn’t require preparation from the patient. After cleaning the teeth, we’ll apply a mild etching acid to them to increase their surface area. We’ll then paint the plastic sealant on in liquid form and harden it with a blue light. The patient will resume eating normally by the next day, and afterward, the sealant can last for as long as ten years as long as they maintain regular oral hygiene.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.

Protect Your Teeth from Staining

If you’ve gotten whitening treatment in our office, you’ve noticed your teeth are several shades lighter. With good oral hygiene, they should stay that way for years. But tooth discoloration is a normal part of life, and everybody’s smiles fade over time. Nonetheless, there are some things you can do to protect natural teeth from stains. At the South Carthay dental office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, we specialize in cosmetic care, and to protect our patients’ investment, we wanted to pass along some information about enamel and extrinsic stains.

 

An extrinsic stain is one which forms on the outside of the tooth. While intrinsic stains are often indicative of a health problem that may require significant intervention, extrinsic stains are usually only a cosmetic issue. For the most part, they can be blamed on tannins. These organic substances are present in some plant tissues, and are the reason why coffee, tea, and red wine are dark colored. They also build up on a person’s teeth, and cause the same stains. Dark colored soda and juice can have a similar effect, and their sugar is causing dark-colored substances to get stuck on the teeth. Other sources of tooth discoloration are smoking, soy sauce, and tomato sauce.

 

Although cutting back on staining substances can keep teeth whiter for longer, patients may not need to abandon coffee and tea entirely. Sipping these drinks through a straw can significantly reduce the teeth’s exposure to tannins. Regular brushing and flossing will also remove the sticky plaque that traps dark substances. If you do notice your teeth fading, we can provide a whitening touch-up in the form of in-office whitening or a refill for a take-home tray.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.