Preventative Dental Care

In order to avoid lengthy procedures & maintain a healthy disease-free mouth, we recommend regular dental checkups every 6 months. This allows us to detect early signs of disease & provide appropriate treatment, leading to a favorable prognosis.

Dental Sealants

Sealants protect the occlusal surfaces, inhibiting bacterial growth, and providing a smooth surface that increases the probability that the surface will stay clean. The ultimate goal of sealants is penetrating into the pit and fissures of the tooth and sealing them from bacteria.

Indications for Use

Traditionally, sealants are thought of as a preventive measure for children and teenagers when they are in their “cavity prone years.” Patients who have xerostomia (decreased salivation), are undergoing orthodontic treatment, show evidence of incipient caries, or who are prone to caries should be evaluated as candidates for sealant placement. Primary molars also can benefit from the placement of sealants.

Dr. Brolen - Preventative Dental Care

Space Maintainers

Space maintainers are appliances made to custom fit your child’s mouth to maintain the space intended for the permanent tooth when it decides to come in. They do this by “holding open” the empty space left by a lost tooth by preventing movement in the remaining teeth until the permanent tooth takes its natural position in the child’s mouth. This treatment is much more affordable and much easier on your child than to move them back later with orthodontic procedures. Think of space maintainers as insurance against braces.

Why are they important to children’s dental care?



Well, teeth are strange in that regard. Teeth attempt to “fill” any space available to them. If your child loses a baby tooth too early, the remaining baby teeth may tilt, drift, or move up or down to fill the gap. When this happens, they fill the space intended for the permanent tooth, and the permanent tooth can come in crowded or crooked. And this condition, if left untreated, may require extensive (and expensive) orthodontic treatment (braces or even surgery).

Do space maintainers require any special care?

Yes, they do, and you as a parent can help. Make sure your child avoids Hard/Sticky foods (suckers, caramels, gum, popcorn, etc.). Teeth should be brushed after each meal and clean the teeth with bands especially well. Once a day, a fluoride mouthwash should be used to help prevent the decalcification of the teeth around the band and wire. Do not try to bend the wire for any reason with a finger or the tongue. Notify our office immediately if the bands come loose or the space maintainer is damaged in any way. If a tooth erupts under the wire this also needs to be checked.

Fluoride Treatment

What is fluoride?


Where is fluoride found?

Topical Fluoride is found in products containing strong concentrations of fluoride (i.e., toothpaste, mouth rinses), fluoridated varnishes, and/or gels either topically applied by a dentist or other oral health professional, or prescribed as an at-home regimen (particularly for persons with a high risk of dental caries).


What health risks are associated with fluoride use?


Call the local water department and/or the health department to evaluate the fluoride level in your local drinking reservoir. Children are especially vulnerable to dental fluorosis as their developing teeth are more sensitive to higher fluoride levels. Please contact our office if you notice changes in the condition of your child’s teeth.