Why We Use Fluoride in Our Huntsville Dentist Office
If you want strong and healthy teeth, visit our Huntsville dentist office. We have a variety of ways to improve your oral health including cleaning your teeth on a regular basis and using fluoride to strengthen them. We especially recommend fluoride treatments for children and teens, preferring to treat their teeth at least once per year. While you may be familiar with the term fluoride, we have found that most of our patients don't understand why we use it or how it can help them. Here are answers to some of the questions patients commonly ask, so that you can understand the benefit.
Who recommends using fluoride?
In our dental office, we recommend fluoride treatments to help strengthen the teeth. We are basing this recommendation on scientific research along with recommendations by the American Dental Association.
Is fluoride safe?
Yes, fluoride is safe for use on your teeth and to drink. There are limits to how much fluoride you should consume and the amount that is put in public water is regulated by the EPA. In our Huntsville dentist office, we give fluoride treatments on a regular basis and have not seen any negative side effects.
Where can I find fluoride?
Fluorine occurs naturally, and you can find it in the dirt you walk on, the air you breathe, and the food that you eat. It is all around you but in small quantities. In order to get enough to benefit your health, you should drink tap water with fluoride, have a fluoride treatment in our dental office, or brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste.
Why is fluoride important?
The CDC reports that tooth decay is the most common infectious disease in children, causing them to have unnecessary toothaches and miss days from school. Fluoride decreases the risk of getting cavities by thirty percent, making it a significant treatment to include in our preventative care plan.
How can I get fluoride?
If you have public water, there is a good chance that you are drinking it. Over 10,000 U.S. communities have fluoridated water and by drinking it you will decrease your cavity risk. Simultaneously, we can place a fluoride varnish on you or your child's teeth. This varnish should remain in place for at least four minutes so that the fluoride can be absorbed by the enamel. Once it is, your teeth will instantly be stronger and less susceptible to tooth decay. In between dental visits, you can brush with a fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen your teeth and reduce their sensitivity. There are also special foods and drinks that you can buy with fluoride in them, but there isn't any evidence that they are nearly as effective as drinking it or visiting the dentist.
In our Huntsville dentist office, we can help your teeth to remain strong and healthy and will discuss fluoride treatments in greater detail during your dental exam. In essence, fluoride works because it remineralizes and strengthens your teeth, making them strong enough to fight off tooth decay.
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We are happy to announce that our dental office is now open!!! We have missed everyone and we look forward to a “new “normal with you. You will have the same smiling faces greeting you, however, things may seem different in our daily operations. I will list below the changes that our office has made due to COVID -19 and we hope that you know that it is our desire to make you feel comfortable and safe in our dental office. Please also have patience with your dental team as we navigate these changes. The appointments may be longer and the phones may be busier but we know in the end you will appreciate our commitment to safety.
If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or have a fever and any of the following symptoms i.e. cough with difficulty in breathing, loss of taste and smell, etc., the day or week prior to appointment please call to cancel your appointment with us and contact your health professional.
We ask that you DO NOT bring anyone else to your appointment unless you are escorting a minor or an elderly person that needs an attendant. You must take all personal things with you back to the treatment rooms. If you are accompanying someone you will be asked to stay in the treatment rooms as well and required to wear a mask and gloves.
You will be sent a questionnaire by text the day of your appointment to answer health questions regarding how you feel. Please fill this out PRIOR to calling us from your car letting us know that you have arrived.
Please wear a mask to our office from home for everyone’s protection.
The reception area will be CLOSED and as you soon as you arrive please call us. We will text you to enter the building and one of our team will meet you at the door to check your temperature before you can enter. If you have a temperature above 100.4 then you will be asked to reschedule your appointment.
Appointments with other patients will be staggered where we can enforce the 6 foot social distancing and of course the patient will be in separate rooms during treatment.
You will be asked to use hand sanitizer upon entering. You will be escorted directly to you treatment room which has been properly disinfected and items covered. There is also a HEPA filter machine that runs throughout the office. Also higher grade return vent filters have also been installed to filter the room air.
All areas of the office will be wiped down that you might touch such as doorknobs, counter tops, etc.
We ask each of you to use the Clorox wipes in the bathroom and use on anything that you touch while using the restroom.
All our team members including the office manager will be in gloves and mask at all times.
Once inside the treatment room you will be asked to rinse with hydrogen peroxide for 60 seconds.
Each staff member will be wearing face shields, higher level masks, and gowns if you are having cleanings or restorative work by the doctor.
Each staff member has to have a temperature check before every day and will be sent home if a temperature is detected higher than 100.4.
A few more important items are listed below:
We will be asking for payment before treatment begins in many cases to alleviate congestion at the front desk. Only one person at a time is allowed at the payment desk and we have writing pens at the payment area that you will be asked to take home.
Rest assured that we will continue to use the highest infection control that we have always provided as well as these additional measures listed above. We follow recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Our main governing body is the Alabama Board of Dental Examiners and the Alabama State of Public Health.
Thank you for being a part of our dental family and we are thrilled to be able to serve our patients again. We understand that things will feel a little bit different but we look forward to welcoming our patients back. Dentistry is an important part of your total health and we are glad to be able to offer our services again. Thank you again for trusting us with your care.