By
Holly Ames/Medstar
.
Published: Mon, September 17, 2007 - 2:46 pm
Last Updated: Mon, September 17, 2007 - 3:11 pm
Luke Bietsh is making up for years of neglecting his teeth. "I never really brushed much when I was younger."The 14 year old is taking part in an extreme hygiene program to strengthen his teeth and wipe out decay.
Dr. Steven Parrett developed the program and says it helps attack the bacteria that contribute to tooth decay. It begins in his office with a check of the patient's saliva for cavity causing bacteria.
Parrett says, "We look at the bacteria, also we have a dietary questionnaire which we go over." Patients receive counseling on tooth friendly nutrition and dental hygiene. Then, they're treated with a powerful fluoride varnish to strengthen tooth enamel.
"That changes the surface tension of the enamel enough that it's hard for the bacteria to attach even. But we use it also for the re-mineralization process," explains Dr. Parrett.
At home, patients use custom-made trays to apply a weaker fluoride gel. They rinse with a prescription strength mouthwash and chew anti-cavity gum.
A fluorescent laser monitors the patient's progress by measuring bacteria levels. The laser can also spot the earliest signs of decay before a cavity even starts. "We shine the laser light in there and we get a digital read out that tells us if there's breakdown of the enamel."
By the way, Dr. Parrett says once a tooth is filled, the area around the filling becomes a breeding ground for cavity-causing bacteria called strep-mutans, putting you at risk for even more decay.
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