Dental Decay "Cavities"

Of course, regular brushing and flossing lowers the chance of developing cavities and dramatically decreses the incidence of "crisis treatment" or emergency care.  The most decay prone areas of teeth are the grooves and depressions on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and the tight contact areas between teeth where food and plaque may collect.

To prevent decay between teeth, flossing is the only true and proven manner to dislodge and breakup any food debris that may be caught between your teeth.  Mouthwashes and rinses and even toothbrushing have scientifically shown NOT to remove plaque effectively between teeth.  For the grooves and depressions, dental sealants can be painted into the grooves to fill-in these decay prone areas.  It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry that permanent molars have sealants placed on them as a preventive measure as soon as they are fully erupted.  Sealant application is simple, fast, and painless (no injections necessary).  Studies have shown that sealants can dramatically reduce the incidence of tooth decay by as much as  90%!