Prevention & Advice

CAMBRA
CAMBRA is Caries Management by Risk Assessment.  The goal is to identify a person at risk for dental decay before fillings, root canals or extractions need to be done.  Most dental offices treat everyone the same way at their prevention visits – as if the likelihood of decay is the same for everyone.  We score each individual with a method approved by the American Dental Association.  With the results, we can personalize treatment and recommendations.

[Click here for our evaluation form]

Depending on your risk assessment, we may recommend a change in the frequency of x-radiographs, the method of your home oral care, your diet, and the frequency of your dental visits. Those with high and moderate risk should have fluoride varnish professionally placed every 3-6 months and use prescription strength fluoride toothpaste* and xylitol at home. We may also recommend a fluoride rinse, remineralizing paste, and acid neutralizing gum and rinse. We think you will appreciate this new method of tailoring your dental care, so please ask about it.

* We have available prescription fluoride and remineralizing pastes in our office (at cost).

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are white or clear protective coatings placed on the surfaces of teeth to prevent cavities.Specifically, they are put on or into grooves of molars, preferably as soon as possible after they erupt into the mouth.  The material used is a thin version of the bonded white fillings that are routinely used in dentistry now.  In our office, the dentist places the sealant after using a tiny drill bur and disinfectant to clean out the deep grooves in the teeth.  This ensures that there is no decay under the newly placed sealant. It is time-consuming and requires the dentist to place sealants this way, but in the long run, the teeth are protected much more thoroughly than the method where the sealant is just placed over the top of the tooth grooves.