Even though the preventive treatments were initiated decades ago, these inventions are of great value when it comes to oral health care.A�A� Remember, prevention is of key importance for maintenance of oral health!
Fluoridated Toothpaste a�� Fluoride containing toothpastes have been widely used for more than five decades and remain the most common intervention for the prevention of dental caries.
Fluoride Mouth Rinses a�� Fluoride mouth rinses have been used extensively for the past 30 years to prevent dental caries in children. In the 1970s and 1980s, the use of rinses was widespread in school-based oral health programs in countries experiencing a high prevalence of dental caries. The current view is that fluoride mouth rinsing programmes are only appropriate for children with high rates of dental caries.
Fluoride Varnish a�� Professionally-applied fluoride varnishes were developed in the 1960s as a preventive intervention for dental caries. They are appropriate for at-risk tooth surfaces in caries-susceptible individuals, and are applied with small brushes, syringes or cotton pellets. They adhere to the tooth surface for 12 hours or more in a thin layer, thereby prolonging the contact time between fluoride and dental enamel. This enables them to act as a slow-releasing reservoir of fluoride. There is a substantial caries-inhibiting effect of fluoride varnish.
Sealants a�� Sealants were introduced in the 1960s. They are plastic coatings that are applied by a dental professional to the deep grooves or fissures on the biting surfaces of permanent posterior teeth. The sealant material blocks out bacteria and the nutrients for those bacteria, thereby preventing a cavity from forming in the more decay susceptible areas of the tooth. However, sealants do not last forever, and need to be monitored on an ongoing basis.
Taken from Oral Health a��More Than Just Cavities: A Report by Ontarioa��s Chief Medical Officer of Health April 2012, An overview of preventive oral health treatments.
