Colorado Northwestern Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program is sponsoring a Sealant Saturday and Cavity Free Clinic this year in Rangely on April 16 at 9 a.m.
If you have children you would like screened for free sealants please call the dental hygiene department at (970)675-3245. Mention your interest in Sealant Saturday.
Other free services that will be provided:
n X-rays
n Home care instructions on brushing and flossing
n Screening for cavities
n Fluoride
What Are Dental Sealants?
Today, most cavities occur on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Dental sealants provide specific protection against that kind of cavity. A dental sealant is shaded plastic material painted directly into the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the tooth. The sealant acts as a barrier protecting the enamel from plaque and acids. (www.dentalcare.com)
What Is Professionally Applied Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in almost all foods and water supplies. It is effective in preventing and reversing the early signs of dental caries (tooth decay). Researchers have shown that there are several ways through which fluoride achieves its decay-preventive effects. It makes the tooth structure stronger, so teeth are more resistant to acid attacks. Acid is formed when the bacteria in plaque break down sugars and carbohydrates from the diet. Repeated acid attacks break down the tooth, which causes cavities. Fluoride also acts to repair, or remineralize, areas where acid attacks have already begun. The remineralization effect of fluoride is important because it reverses the early decay process as well as creating a tooth surface that is more resistant to decay. Professionally-applied fluorides are in the form of a gel or varnish and are applied by a dentist or dental hygienist during dental visits. These fluorides are more concentrated than the self-applied fluorides and have been shown to reduce caries (tooth decay) in 40-70 percent of the population that receives professionally applied fluoride.
Sealant Saturday
The purpose of this community project is to involve dental hygiene students in a project that helps children in need. There are approximately 800 children in the Colorado northwestern area that do not have access to care. Sealant Saturday gives CNCC the opportunity to give back to and affect the surrounding communities by offering a vital dental procedure to children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to have these services provided to them. We will be able to affect the health of 50 children and their families.
