Sealants

All teeth in the back of the mouth have grooves in them. Many of the grooves are defects where the tooth did not develop properly. They may have openings into the inside of the tooth. They collect food debris and are the starting point of dental decay.

If the grooves are detected at the right time, which is soon after they have erupted and no decay has set in, the grooves can be sealed with a plastic resin or a sealant which can prevent decay from starting.

Various sealant materials are available to close the defects in the tooth before decay starts. Teeth sealants are either natural tooth colored or slightly off color for easy observation of their retention on the tooth.

Sealants are most indicated for the permanent first and second molars. First molars erupt around age six and second molars usually around age twelve. It is best to seal them within six months of their eruption. Premolars, the teeth in front of the molars; are not as prone to formation of grooves as the molars and may not need sealant protection on a routine basis. Occasionally, sealants can be considered for baby or deciduous teeth. It is not always easy to detect the onset on decay even with electronic gauging devices and therefore best to seal the permanent molar teeth as soon as they erupt as a preventative measure. Sealant placement cannot be successfully placed after the onset of decay in the tooth. Placement of teeth sealants is relatively simple and does not need the use of any anesthetic. Various isolation techniques are used to keep the tooth dry- a mild acid will cleanse the tooth and create microscopic pores to mechanically lock and retain the sealant material. Plastic is applied and hardened and the sealant is completed. Teeth sealants need to be observed at recare visits to ensure that the edges or thin area of the sealants are not worn out and if needed, they need to be repaired or replaced.

It is estimated that more than 50 % of the back molar teeth will have decay if not protected with sealants. Restoring teeth with fillings is usually more expensive and invasive than the simple placement of a sealant for teeth. Waiting to place a sealant for teeth that are fully erupted in the mouth has risks of starting decay that can be easily avoided.

Sealants for teeth are a simple, well-documented measure of protecting teeth from decay. They preserve tooth structure and reduce the cost of oral health care

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Meet Gina!

For Gina, the transition into the dental field started with a high school career day. "I had braces and all of a sudden, it clicked. I knew I wanted to become an orthodontic assistant. I paid attention and noticed how the assistants seemed to stay busy and were able to do quite a bit on their own. I liked the thought of doing that, too." Gina went to school and became a Registered Dental Assistant only to find work in a children's practice. "Pediatric dentistry was fun, but then I moved and started to work in a general practice." Taking some time out to raise her own children, Gina found herself coming back to dentistry every time. Twenty years in the field shows how much she loves what she does.

Raised in Pomona, Gina tries to stay near her family. "There are eight of us kids and we are all very close. They are my support system, and I don't know what I'd do without my Dad." As the mother of three, Gina stays busy. "I have two daughters and a son. I'm so very proud of them all. Rachel, my oldest, is attending California State and majoring in English and Marketing. Raelene is thirteen and is on the dance team. Even then she is able to take advanced and honors classes. John, my youngest is 7, and a baseball player." He's not the only one who plays, Gina also finds time to play softball on a co-Ed team.

But what brings her joy? "Working with patients." Gina smiles brightly. "They are so surprised when I come back and assist. It's great! I get to spend time with each of them and catch up on what is happening in their lives." After many years as a dental assistant, Gina has now found the front desk to be her passion. "I made the decision to work at the front desk about eight years ago and found I like being the first person that patients see. I've now been with Dr. Cherukuri for four years, which means many  patients have known me for years. The other reason I like working at the front desk is I really believe patients have made the right decision in coming to our office. At the front desk I get to demonstrate that fact."

Gina is also excited about all the new technologies in the office. "I love to learn and grow. We have digital X-rays and an intra oral camera. Dr. Cherukuri places implants and uses a laser. I'm proud to say we do those things in our office. We are active, too. You can find us on Facebook, google, or even Dr.'s blog. If you are looking for a dentist come in and get to know us. You won't be disappointed."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

                                          Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!!

Dr.Cherukuri and Staff

Meet Claudia!

"Come on back," Claudia says cheerily. I see a tall man in the reception area rise. Their conversation continues as they move toward one of Dr. Cherukuri's treatment rooms. "How are your boys?" she asks. The man's face lights up and he quickly fills her in.

Family is how Claudia came to be at Dr. Cherukuri's office. "It was meant to be," she tells me. "My mother and father-in-law were patients of Dr. Cherukuri's."

Claudia decided to go to school to become a dental assistant. After she finished her internship she worked for several years. "Then one day I found myself looking for a new position. I was hired by another office, but the morning I was to start my new job, I was rushed to the hospital and had an appendectomy. When I was finally ready to go back to work, the office that had hired me, no longer had a position available. My mother-in-law mentioned Dr. Cherukuri needed someone to cover a pregnancy leave. Well, I filled in during the maternity leave." Claudia shrugs. "That was nine years ago."

I watch as Claudia works to make her patient comfortable. Her easygoing manner makes all seem effortless while her soothing voice calms. "I originally thought I wanted to be an orthodontic assistant. I liked the idea of working closely with patients but independently. I'm fortunate that I found an office where I have a lot of autonomy."

Claudia also likes the pace at Dr. Cherukuri's. "We are not in a hurry to get patients in and out. You know in some offices it feels like you are a people-mover. Not here. Instead we have the ability to focus on each person and develop a relationship. That's why the patients become like family. It's all about the time we get to spend with them."

While Claudia has known Dr. Cherukuri for a number of years, she hasn't always worked there. "I've taken time off to have my own family, but I seem to always come back." Now with three children all very active in sports, Claudia has her hands full at home. "My weekends are spent watching baseball, basketball, football and soccer. My husband coaches baseball."

The procedure is over and the gentleman rises to leave. Claudia escorts him to the front and jokes with him a bit before she returns to clean the treatment room. "He's one of my favorite patients," she tells me. Claudia knows how to care for them all. "I want them to forget they are in a dental office. The best way to do that is to make sure all the attention is on them." It's an area where Claudia excels.