Lakes Community Oral Health Service: Free oral health services for tamariki — Rotorua, Taupō and Tūrangi

Cleaning and scaling is cleaning teeth to remove stains, plaque and deposits using dental products and dental tools. Plaque and deposits left on teeth over time make gums unhealthy.

X-rays show a small up close picture of the teeth. X-rays allow decay to be detected before it can be seen in the mouth. Early stage of tooth decay can be stopped if detected and treated in time. If decay in early stage is undetected and untreated it may progress to:

• cavities that need filling
• the tooth needing to be taken out. 

X-rays also allow a check for the presence and position of permanent teeth. X-rays also help see issues that are otherwise nearly invisible to the naked eye.

A small amount of fluoride varnish will be painted onto teeth. Fluoride, when taken up by tooth enamel, makes teeth more resistant to acid attack by dental plaque and bacteria. Fluoride can reduce tooth decay by up to 40% with regular applications. 

Fissure sealants are a protective coating applied to the deep grooves on back teeth. This makes them smooth, easier to clean and less susceptible to decay and dental caries.