Our dental sealants are made from a resin-like material that is bonded to the tooth surface.
preventive dental in fairfax
Proactive Care to Prevent Decay
Preventative dental care provides extra support in protecting your long-term oral health.
Professional-grade fluoride applications will help remineralize and strengthen the enamel, preventing tooth decay. Sealants are placed to eliminate the deep groves on the molars of children and young adults to prevent the accumulation of stains and decay.
Preventive dental care offers natural-looking protection for your teeth, provides strong and durable performance, and can help replace minerals (fluoride).
At Oakton Family Dentistry, we may recommend fluoride applications or sealants during your routine dental exam. If you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity, make an appointment today to talk about treatment.
What Preventive Dental Care Does for You
Less Cavity Risk
Preventative care at Oakton Family Dental builds stronger enamel through fluoride treatment, and it fills in cracks and crevices where decay starts with dental sealants.
Oral Support
Fluoride application and dental sealants can support other preventive care treatments for better overall oral health.
Social Confidence
Cavities can cause health issues along with halitosis (bad breath). Stopping current cavities and maintaining your gum health will keep you confident with the look and function of your smile.
Preventive Fluoride
Teeth lose minerals as acids formed by bacteria, plaque, and sugars in your mouth attack enamel.
Fluoride remineralizes enamel for better acid resistance, along with reversing early tooth decay. While you do get some level of fluoride in toothpaste, a professional fluoride treatment delivers a much higher level of fluoride for heightened remineralization and strengthening of depleted tooth enamel.
How it Works
After cleaning your teeth, we’ll apply the fluoride. You’ll need to allow the treatment time to absorb, so we recommend that you avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes to an hour after the application. The treatment strengthens your tooth enamel to make it less susceptible to cavities, bacteria, and decay.
Sealants
Dental sealants get applied to crevices and grooves on molar teeth, creating a barrier between the tooth surface and food debris or bacteria.
Dental sealants can work for up to 10 years. The application of dental sealants is a preventative service that we most commonly use on children who are just learning to brush their teeth. We will also use this option for adults who are prone to cavities, possess weakened enamel, or have deep fissures on the surface of their molars.
How it Works
Dental sealants are applied between the crevices and grooves on the molar teeth (back teeth) to act as a barrier between the tooth surface and food debris or bacteria. Once set in place, sealants can work for up to 10 years.
To begin this process, the tooth surface is thoroughly cleaned and dried. An appropriate amount of liquid sealant material is carefully applied to the tooth surface, covering the vulnerable areas. The sealant will take a few minutes to dry and harden under an LED light. Finally, the sealant is set into place.
VELscope® Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer is a rather frightening condition that can quickly spread to other parts of the body when left undetected. Fortunately, when caught early, the cancer is much easier to treat.
Using the VELscope system, our team conducts a thorough assessment of your mouth during every six-month visit. While cancer in the early stages may not show any obvious symptoms or indications, we can quickly spot it using our screening device.
How it Works
VELscope utilizes fluorescent lighting to penetrate the tissue and easily visualize areas of increased density or tumor development beneath the skin’s surface. Upon discovery of any abnormalities, we can quickly begin our mission of securing your health with a biopsy, analysis, and planning any subsequent procedures.
Ready for Your Preventative Care?
Healthy smiles happen every day at Oakton Family Dentistry.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s like sunscreen. If your skin is sensitive, should you use sunscreen after going out in the sun? No. With fluoride applications and dental sealants, you’re applying protection to prevent an issue, especially if you’re prone to the problem.
Preventive dental care at Oakton Family Dentistry in Fairfax helps to keep your teeth healthy by addressing gum diseases, tooth decay, and other issues. Our treatments and recommendations, including fluorides and sealants, address and protect your teeth from current and future problems.
After your cleaning and a dental exam, our preventive care recommendations allow you to help prevent future issues that may occur. These recommendations might include fluoride applications, sealants, or suggestions of home-care techniques.
Fluoride treatments are safe and effective for all ages. The American Dental Association recommends fluoride treatments in 3, 6, and 12-month intervals depending on your specific condition. If you’re more prone to cavities, we may recommend them more frequently.
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. It’s proven to reduce tooth decay by remineralizing your tooth enamel.