Visit at the dentist - sealing of the teeth

Otázka

We have been to the dentist with my child suffering from CF. He advised us to seal the teeth. Are there any risks (Pseudomonas aeruginosa or others)? I would be pleased to get an answer from you. For the necessary drilling the sterile sodium chloride solution is adapted to an external connection in order to exclude the danger of Pseudomonas.

Odpověď

Hello!
A sealing, especially of the resting back teeth (molar teeth), is a useful prophylactic measure. With that method, the often quite fissured chewing-relief of the tooth is cleaned and sealed with a fluid light-hardening synthetic material. This diminishes the danger of caries and prevents an exceeding colonization of the oral cavity with germs.
The danger of an infection with Pseudomonas or other germs originates among others from the watersupplying systems of the dentist's chair - that are the "driller", the refiller of the tumbler and the multifunctional syringe ("airblower") - because the water can come to a deadlock in thin tubes here and then germinate.
As you mention that your dentist in charge has the possibility of an external connection of the sterile sodium chloride solution, you already talked to him about the possible danger of infection of your child suffering from CF; and that is the most important point.
Also in case of a sealing, a "driller" has to be used, as sometimes the fissure has to be widened a bit and in any case has to be polished afterwards. A cooling with sterile sodium chloride solution indicates that your dentist is taking care of your problem very carefully and versedly.
In order to rinse out the mouth after the treatment (important to get rid of rests of the polishing procedure, cleaner of the enamel, among others) you should ask for normal tap water from the sink (like at your home, too), as the refillers of the tumbler of the dentist's chair have a preheated water tank (there the danger of germination is of course relatively high). Furthermore, the multifunctional syringes should be scoured out by the assisting staff and the dentist right before treatment for 1-2 minutes.
If this advice is considered, the risk of infection during the treatment at the dentist is not higher than the risk in normal life.
With kind regards,
Michael Sies

21.04.2008