(909) 930-1197
FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What Are Dental Sealants?
A. Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. This is where most tooth decay in children and teens occurs. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from decay by keeping germs and pieces of food out.
Q. What causes tooth decay and how does fluoride prevent it?
A. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth. When a person eats sugar, or other refined carbohydrates, these bacteria produce acid that removes minerals from the surface of the tooth, a process known as demineralization. If demineralization goes on long enough, a cavity is formed. Fluoride can promote the remineralization of enamel, thereby preventing the cavity from continuing to form. In addition, fluoride reduces the ability of the oral bacteria to produce acid.
Q. What is community water fluoridation?
A. Community water fluoridation is the adjustment of the fluoride concentration in the community water supply to a level beneficial to reduce tooth decay and promote good oral health. The mineral fluoride is essential for strong healthy teeth that resist decay. Almost all waters contain some quantity of naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels insufficient to prevent decay. The optimum concentration of fluoride in water has been determined to be between 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter (mg/L) depending on the air temperature in a given region. Given the dramatic decline in tooth decay during the past 60 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named water fluoridation one of Ten Great Public Health Interventions of the 20th Century. Community water fluoridation has been recommended by the past five United States Surgeon General’s.
Q.What standards does the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set for levels of fluoride in water?
A. The EPA establishes criteria for safe drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act and its amendments (1974, 1986, and 1996). These standards include the maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG), the maximum contaminant level (MCL), and the secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL).
The MCLG is a health goal set at a concentration to minimize adverse health effects. This goal is not enforceable and serves as an advisory to the states. The MCL is an enforceable regulatory standard that is set as close to the MCLG as practical, taking into consideration factors such as treatment technology and costs. The SMCL is a non-enforceable secondary standard that, in the case of fluoride, provides guidance on cosmetic or aesthetic considerations related to tooth enamel fluorosis. In 1986, the EPA established an MCLG and MCL for fluoride at a concentration of 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and an SMCL of 2 mg/L. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires periodic reassessment of regulations for drinking water contaminants.
