Prevent Decay with Fissure Sealants

What are fissure sealants?
The biting surfaces of the back teeth naturally have tiny deep pits and grooves called fissures. The fissures are so small that not even a toothbrush bristle can reach and clean it when you brush your teeth. Decay which eventuate as holes in the teeth may form when plaque or bacteria get trapped in these deep grooves. A preventive option to protect your teeth from decay and plaque is by sealing up these deep grooves with a coating known as a fissure sealant. A fissure sealant is a tooth coloured liquid-like substance which turns into a hard resin coating that bonds into the grooves of the teeth, therefore, protecting your teeth from decay.

Procedure for fissure sealants
The whole procedure to have a fissure sealant applied to your tooth is quick and painless.

•We make sure that there is no decay or plaque in the tooth.
•It is important to keep the area dry and away from your saliva when applying the fissure sealant. The sealant might not bond properly if the tooth gets wet.
•The fissure sealant is painted onto the biting surface of your back tooth filling the grooves and pits.
•Then the sealant is hardened by using a special kind of light that “cures” the sealant, therefore sealing up these deep grooves and pits. Once it hardens, the tooth is ready for use.

Who needs fissure sealants?
At DentArtisans we believe that the best time to have fissure sealants done is when the adult permanent molar teeth first emerge into the mouth. Usually for children, the first permanent molar tooth pops out at around the age of six. It is recommended to seal these new teeth, as soon as they come out, with a fissure sealant so that it provides a protective coating to prevent decay from forming in them.

To schedule in appointment for your fissure sealants with Dr. Linda Quach, Dr. Max Guazzato, Dr. Andrew See or Dr. Jacob Smith call us on 9518 7832

Bonjela Teething Gel Warnings

The issue with Bonjela Teething Gel, as sold in Australia, is the active ingredient, choline salicylate. In Europe, Bonjela Teething Gel contains Lidocaine hydrochloride and cetalkonium chloride and does not have choline salicylate in it. Choline salicylate belongs to a group of medications called NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory DrugS) which act by reducing the inflammation of the gums and hence reduces the pain of teething. The salicylate family includes common over-the- counter drugs such as Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and Dencorub (methyl salicylate). Click here to view a comprehensive list of Salicylates to avoid.

As oral choline salicylate is structurally related to Aspirin (salicylic acid), and Aspirin is known to be associated with Reye's Syndrome, it is therefore possible that overuse can result in a child developing Reye's Syndrome. Reye's syndrome is a potentially fatal disease that causes detrimental effects to organs; particularly the brain, liver and kidneys. The disease causes “fatty liver” and severe encephalopathy (with swelling of the brain).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be taken by anyone under 19 years of age during fever-causing illnesses. On the 21st April 2009, the Medicines and Healthcare products and Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advised that products containing choline salicylate should not be used on children and adolescents under the age of 16. Such a warning is purely precautionary.

A review article published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine in January 2007 by J.E. Davis noted that there were some well documented deaths and life threatening toxicity in children under 6 yrs of age after a dosage of less than 5mLs (one teaspoon) of Oil of Wintergreen. Oil of Wintergreen contains 98% choline salicylate. The data from the study was obtained from a review of the existing medical literature on methyl salicylate (e.g. Dencorub) poisoning and data compiled over the past two decades by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).
Dentartisans recommend that you avoid choline salicylate in children and adolescents under the age of 16. Alternative teething remedies you can use are: teething rings, rusks, cold teaspoon, ice, chilled fruits, toys with various hard and soft textures and cuddles. Nurofen for Children or Panadol for Children will also help. Herbal teething gels are also available on the market. These gels may work and but there are as yet, no available documented studies related to them. They may also have side effects of their own.

List of Salicylics to Avoid

Reye's syndrome is a potentially fatal disease that causes detrimental effects to organs; particularly the brain, liver and kidneys. The disease causes “fatty liver” and severe encephalopathy (with swelling of the brain).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be taken by anyone under 19 years of age during fever-causing illnesses. This includes the recent Medicines and Healthcare products and Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advice that products containing choline salicylate (e.g. Bonjela) should not be used on children and adolescents under the age of 16.

Below are a list of Salicylics (same family as Aspirin) commonly found in over the counter products to avoid:

Acetyl Salicylic Acid
Acetylsalicylate
Acetylsalicylic Acid
Aluminum Acetyl Salicylate
Ammonium Salicylate
Amyl Salicylate
Arthropan
Aspirin
Benzyl Salicylate
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Calcium Acetyl Salicylate
Choline Salicylate
Ethyl Salicylate
Lithium Salicylate
Methyl Salicylate
Methylene Disalicylic Acid
Octisalate
Octyl Salicylate
Phenyl Salicylate
Procaine Salicylate
Sal Ethyl Carbonate
Salicylamide
Salicylanilide
Salicylsalicylic Acid
Santalyl Salicylate
Sodium Salicylate
Stoncylate
Strontium Salicylate
Sulfosalicylic Acid
Tridecyl Salicylate
Trolamine Salicylate

Dentartisans recommend that you avoid choline salicylate in children and adolescents under the age of 16.

Can Mouthwashes containing Alcohol cause Oral Cancer?

At DentArtisans every patient is screened for oral cancer at their dental check up appointments. It is well known that excessive alcohol consumption combined with smoking will increase the risk of oral cancer. The recent publicity of alcohol-containing mouthwashes and oral cancer was sparked when Associate Professor Michael McCullough from Melbourne University, published findings in his study in the Australian Dental Journal. Professor McCullough mentioned that some mouthwashes were more dangerous than wine or beer because they contained higher concentrations of alcohol - as high as 26 per cent.

The study published by Professor McCullough however did not show conclusive results. At least ten epidemiological studies published over the last three decades strongly suggested that the use of alcohol-containing rinses did not increase the risk of oral cancer.

The ethanol in mouthwash is thought to allow cancer-causing substances (such as nicotine) to permeate the lining of the mouth more easily and potentially cause harm. Acetaldehyde is a carcinogenic chemical which results in the toxic breakdown of alcohol.

On the contrary, the head of the University of Queensland's School of Dentistry, Professor Laurence Walsh claims that mouthwashes are more likely to help prevent cancer as they impair the production of molecules that have cancer-causing effects like acetaldehyde.

From our perspective, we caution our patients against using a powerful alcoholic-based mouthwash on a daily basis especially those who use mouthwash to mask the smell of cigarette smoke. At DentArtisans our policy on mouthwashes has always followed current literature and guidelines. We recommended mouthwashes only for specific situations, such as before and after surgical procedures, to aid with the healing of gums after gum therapy, and as a pre-rinse prior to dental procedures. The use of such mouthwashes has been prescribed for period of two weeks only and not for prolonged use. For prolonged use, we have an alcohol free mouthwash called Curasept.

If you have any concerns about the mouthwash that you are currently using or that we have prescribed for you please do not hesitate to contact us at DentArtisans ph: 9518 7832 or email: smile@dentartisans.com.au