Hawkins Family Dentistry - Midlothian

Fluoride Treatment in Midlothian

Protect and strengthen tooth enamel and shield molars from cavities and decay.
Call 804-944-8984

Protecting your teeth from the very start

Fluoride Treatment

Children in particular benefit from fluoride treatment. As adult teeth come in, fluoride treatments help combat tooth decay through a process called remineralization. Acids from plaque and from the food we eat can wear down tooth enamel by sapping teeth of certain essential minerals. Fluoride treatment stops and reverses this process making tooth enamel stronger and more resistant to decay.

Dental Sealants

The biting surfaces of molars have plenty of grooves and fissures that can easily trap acidic plaque or food particles which may be difficult to clean. When children get new molars, dental sealant can be used to keep gunk out, protect their natural teeth and prevent decay. Dental sealants provide a protective shield for those vulnerable areas.

Why opt for sealants and fluoride?

The American Dental Association supports the appropriate and selective use of sealants for both primary and permanent teeth based on a risk assessment and diagnosis by a dentist. According to the CDA, sealants are an important component of a comprehensive preventive program, which includes nutritional counselling, optimal fluoride exposure, good oral hygiene and regular dental examinations.

Reduce tooth sensitivity

The enamel is just the outter-most layer of a tooth. Underneath the enamel, a tooth is made up of dentin, pulp and nerve. Dentin helps support the structure of your tooth but it can’t protect the nerve of the tooth from hot and cold or acid and sticky foods. If the enamel becomes thin and worn, teeth will become sensitive. Fluoride and sealants keep the enamel in tip-top condition so that it can continue to protect your sensitive dentin from the elements.

Prevent and reverse decay

Worn enamel can continue to decay until a cavity forms. In addition to causing tooth sensitivity, exposed dentin comes with the added risk of infection which can be extremely painful and may require a root canal to save the tooth. Rebuilding enamel with fluoride treatment and shielding problem areas from plaque build-up helps to prevent decay and even strengthens teeth.

Save money in the long run

An ounce of prevention now is worth a pound of cure tomorrow. Fluoride and sealants are a relatively inexpensive treatment and will prevent the need for more costly procedures that would be required if tooth decay is allowed to progress.

The fluoridation and sealant process

Fluoride treatments are usually added on to your child’s routine teeth cleaning and exam once a year. Sealants are applied as needed, usually, after a new molar erupts or if the dentist recognizes a problem area on the biting surface of a tooth.

Fluoride treatment

The fluoride treatment we use is stronger than store-bought because it is administered by medical professionals in our office. Our most common fluoride treatment comes in the form of foam or gel in an upper and lower tray. Fluoride only takes a few minutes to apply at the end of your teeth cleaning. We will ask that the patient avoids eating or drinking for 30 minutes after treatment for maximum benefits.

Dental Sealant application

Dental sealants are very easy to apply and completely painless. There is no drilling required and you won’t need freezing. The dentist will carefully clean and dry the tooth. A mild acidic gel will be applied to the tooth to make the surface a little rough for the strongest bond. The dentist will rinse the gel off after a few seconds, dry the tooth again and then press and apply sealant into the grooves of the tooth. A special blue light is used to cure the sealant. Your bite should still feel natural and comfortable when it’s done.

Contact us today

to schedule an initial consultation & exam.

Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your dentist or hygienist will advise you to wait 30 minutes after fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. This waiting period gives the fluoride a chance to absorb into your tooth enamel and do its thing.
Did you know that fluoride is actually a naturally occurring mineral? Small concentrations of fluoride are naturally present in some sources of drinking water. Scientists caught on to the benefits of fluoride when it was noticed that people who lived near fluorinated sources of water had less tooth decay. Since then, fluoride has been added to other sources of drinking water and to routine dental care regimens. Fluoride treatment has been safely preventing dental decay all over the world for generations.
Dental sealant is bonded to the biting surfaces of molars and acts as a shield to protect the vulnerable grooves and fissures of teeth from decay.
Dental sealants can last up to 10 years with routine oral hygiene and regular checkups. Make sure to brush and floss regularly and avoid acidic food and drink, especially before bed. If dental sealants become chipped or worn, a dentist or hygienist can easily repair it.

What Our Patients Are Saying

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    Google verified patient reviews

    I love the Hawkins Family Dentistry office. From the arriving to leaving the office everyone is friendly, caring and concerned about your comfort while there. Since I moved to Virginia 8 years ago, I have tried several dentist office and was not pleased with them. Since a recommendation to try Hawkins Family Dentistry office. I've been very well pleased. . I highly recommend this office.
    More
    Brenda Mills
    1 month ago
    Everyone at Hawkins are wonderful. Very friendly and knowledgeable in what they do. They have the latest technology for working on your teeth that makes it more pleasant to have things done. Very pleased with this group.
    More
    Sheryl Lilli
    1 month ago
    Dr Hawkins is amazing!!! He made such a scary experience so wonderful. He redid my front teeth and I can finally smile confidently again!!! I’ve been so nervous to do this for so long bc my daughter is a dentist and she told me how important it is to have the right dentist do this job and how important it was to have the right lab (still have no idea what she was talking about) but Dr Hawkins was so accommodating and wonderful and I’m so happy with the whole experience!! I’m forever grateful for him and the whole team! I actually worked with Dr Neidert for my routine care and she has been phenomenal as well. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this office thank you guys so much for everything!! If anyone reading this is looking to upgrade your smile, they will not let you down!! Thank you Dr Hawkins and Dr Neidert!!!!
    More
    Christina Tsai
    1 month ago
    Dr Hawkins made my (yesterday) visit very pleasant! No wait time! The staff was sweet and efficient, answered my questions promptly! My husband changed his dentist to Dr Hawkins from my referral. I hope to bring the rest of my family in, + my friends! Thank you Dr Hawkins,
    More
    Art Stephens
    3 weeks ago
    Laura is an awesome tech. She does a great job and cares about the patients comfort. I personally have no dental office fears but my wife does and their office has put all those fears to rest.
    More
    I love the Hawkins Family Dentistry office. From the arriving to leaving the office everyone is friendly, caring and concerned about your comfort while there. Since I moved to Virginia 8 years ago, I have tried several dentist office and was not pleased with them. Since a recommendation to try Hawkins Family Dentistry office. I've been very well pleased. . I highly recommend this office.
    More
    Brenda Mills
    1 month ago
    Everyone at Hawkins are wonderful. Very friendly and knowledgeable in what they do. They have the latest technology for working on your teeth that makes it more pleasant to have things done. Very pleased with this group.
    More
    Sheryl Lilli
    1 month ago
    Dr Hawkins is amazing!!! He made such a scary experience so wonderful. He redid my front teeth and I can finally smile confidently again!!! I’ve been so nervous to do this for so long bc my daughter is a dentist and she told me how important it is to have the right dentist do this job and how important it was to have the right lab (still have no idea what she was talking about) but Dr Hawkins was so accommodating and wonderful and I’m so happy with the whole experience!! I’m forever grateful for him and the whole team! I actually worked with Dr Neidert for my routine care and she has been phenomenal as well. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this office thank you guys so much for everything!! If anyone reading this is looking to upgrade your smile, they will not let you down!! Thank you Dr Hawkins and Dr Neidert!!!!
    More
    Christina Tsai
    1 month ago
    Dr Hawkins made my (yesterday) visit very pleasant! No wait time! The staff was sweet and efficient, answered my questions promptly! My husband changed his dentist to Dr Hawkins from my referral. I hope to bring the rest of my family in, + my friends! Thank you Dr Hawkins,
    More
    Art Stephens
    3 weeks ago
    Laura is an awesome tech. She does a great job and cares about the patients comfort. I personally have no dental office fears but my wife does and their office has put all those fears to rest.
    More
      Hawkins Family Dentistry - Midlothian

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      Call 804-944-8984