editorials.png

Our Opinion: Would lie detector test yield better candidates for public office?

web1_Khan.jpg

Letter to the Editor: Mourning father’s heartfelt words put Donald Trump in his place

<p>Dental caries, more commonly known as tooth decay, is the most prevalent chronic disease in children, even though it is largely preventable.</p><p>This infectious disease occurs, in part, from certain bacteria in the mouth that turn sugar from the food we eat into acids that destroy the layers of a tooth.</p><p>It would make sense, then, that you can prevent tooth decay by reducing the amount of tooth-damaging acid in your mouth by eating sugary or starchy foods less often during the day, and by brushing and flossing daily. Unfortunately, this might not be enough for many people. However, dentistry has some amazing weapons to help combat this disease in its early stages, thereby preventing the need for drilling decayed areas, which results in the loss of tooth structure.</p><p>New technologies exist that can help dentists find early decay. These caries-detection systems work by using laser or light-induced fluorescence. When detected early, dental caries can be reversed.</p><p>Managing caries by identifying patients&#8217; risk factors allows early intervention that is tailored to each patient. Caries risk factors in children can include lack of fluoride exposure, dietary factors, low socioeconomic status, poor oral hygiene and reduced salivary flow.</p><p>The arsenal for caries prevention has included a variety of antibacterial and remineralizing products. Fluoride has been, and continues to be, one of our best weapons against caries, by strengthening enamel. It is now possible to not only prevent decay but to reverse it.</p><p>In addition to these therapeutic agents, sealants have been shown to be very effective at preventing caries. Sealants are thin, tough, plastic coatings that are placed over the biting surfaces of back teeth. Dental hygienists are primary prevention professionals who are able to place sealants and apply fluoride treatments, including fluoride varnish.</p><p>Another weapon that is showing great promise in the fight against caries is silver diamine fluoride. This clinically applied liquid has been shown to stop caries and aid in preventing further progression of the disease. The use of silver diamine fluoride, or SDF, to halt active tooth decay eliminates the need for needles and dental drills, which can improve patients&#8217; experiences in the dental office. It has been used in other countries for decades but only became commercially available in the United States in April 2015.</p><p>SDF is a safe and inexpensive topical agent that works by killing bacteria in the cavity and helping decayed enamel remineralize. It will, however, stain decayed areas black.</p><p>To find more information about these new weapons against caries, consult a dental professional or the website of a reputable organization such as the <a href="http://www.ada.org/en/" target="_blank">American Dental Association</a>, the <a href="http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/" target="_blank">National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research</a>, or the National Library of Medicine&#8217;s <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/" target="_blank">Medline</a>.</p><p>Luzerne County Community College&#8217;s Benco Dental Health Clinic provides information and preventive dental hygiene services to address tooth decay. Dental professionals have, literally at their fingertips, new ways to prevent and reduce the effects of this costly and often painful disease. Perhaps the war on dental caries will be won in the near future.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Cleary_Julie-12.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Cleary_Julie-12.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Julie Cleary</p><p>Guest columnist</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Julie Cleary is a professor of dental health programs at Luzerne County Community College. For information, visit luzerne.edu or call the LCCC Benco Dental Health Clinic at 570-740-0446.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Julie Cleary: Dental professionals turn to new tools for controlling and even reversing tooth decay