Description

Caries experience during orthodontic treatments increases because of adherence of cariogenic plaque on tooth surfaces around the bands. During this time, the use of toothpastes that can inhibit the acid production are a way to reduce the caries experience and provide added protection to the tooth surface. In such cases, stannous fluoride has a dramatically increased ability to reduce biofilm acidogenicity providing further protection for the teeth beyond that of sodium monofluorophosphate or sodium fluoride.

This course will explore the added protection of tooth surfaces from acid damage when using stannous fluoride in comparison to other fluoride sources.

Learning Objectives:

• Introduce measures of biofilm acid production, acidogenicty and acidurity. Plus the concepts of antibacterial action and surface stabilization.
  
• Review how stannous fluoride both reduces acid production and stabilizes the tooth surface towards acid attack.
• Discuss best practices for oral care providers when caring for orthodontic patients.
• Reaffirm the science that underpins the use of stannous fluoride to reduce cavities beyond sodium fluoride
  

Speaker(s):

• Samuel St. John, PhD