Our Services

With today's technology and innovations, the risk of caries and gum diseases can be significantly reduced with the proper preventative services such as sealants, interceptive orthodontics, fluoridation, and patient education.  Drs. Lee and Salem are very involved educating patients young and old the risk/benefits of each preventative procedures.

Prevention and Sealants

The first step in maintaining a healthy mouth is preventing tooth decay, and sealants can offer major protection against cavities. Your teeth are covered with a sticky film of bacteria, called plaque. When you don't clean your teeth after eating, plaque bacteria use sugar and starch in food as a source of energy. The bacteria convert the sugar or starch into harmful acids that attack tooth enamel for as long as twenty minutes or more. Repeated attacks may cause the enamel to break down, resulting in cavities.

How does a sealant help prevent decay?

A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth — premolars and molars. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas by "sealing out" plaque and food.

Is sealant application a complicated procedure?

Sealants are easy for your dentist to apply, and it takes only a few minutes to seal each tooth. The teeth that will be sealed are cleaned. Then the chewing surfaces are roughened with an acid solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. The sealant is then 'painted' onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last several years before a reapplication is needed. During your regular dental visits, your dentist will check the condition of the sealants and reapply them when necessary.

Sealants are just for kids, right?  No...

The likelihood of developing pit and fissure decay begins early in life, so children and teenagers are obvious candidates. But adults can benefit from sealants as well.

Key ingredients in preventing tooth decay and maintaining a healthy mouth are twice-daily brushing with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste; cleaning between the teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners; eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks; and visiting your dentist regularly. Ask your dentist about whether sealants can put extra power behind your prevention program.

Why Custom Fabricated Sports Mouth guards?

According to the American Dental Association, more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented annually in the United States by sports mouth guards. Unfortunately, the National Youth Sports Foundation estimates that more than 5 million teeth will be knocked out in sporting activities this year. These oral traumas will happen to children, high school and college level athletes. In fact, dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports.

Dental injuries could be significantly reduced if children, teenagers, and adults wore custom fabricated mouth guards while involved in such activities as football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, rollerblading, skateboarding, martial arts, boxing, hockey, kickboxing, and mountain biking. 

Not All Sports Mouth Guards Are Created Equal

Comparing dentist-fitted multi-laminated sports mouth guards with stock or “boil and bite” type mouth guards, typically found in sporting goods stores, reveals significant differences. “Boil and bite” type mouth guards do not fit as accurately as custom fabricated types, so they often go unworn because they’re uncomfortable and frequently interfere with the athlete’s breathing and speaking ability. They may also give a false sense of protection due to the dramatic decrease in thickness when the athlete bites it into place during its softened state. Custom fitted mouth guards, however, have been shown to be far more effective than those offered in sporting goods stores.