Teeth lapping, or impregnation, is a caries treatment technique that attacks milk teeth. When is teeth lapping necessary? How is it and is it safe? What are the side effects of tooth lapping? What is the effectiveness of tooth lapping?
Lapisizing,or impregnation, is a caries treatment technique. Primary teeth lapping is used. The first milk teeth appear in the mouth of a toddler around 5-6 months of age. By about 3 years of age, all milk teeth are visible in the oral cavity. They should be properly cared for from the very beginning. There is a myth among adults that milk teeth do not need to be treated, because they will fall out anyway. This is not true. Milk teeth should be properly cared for and, if necessary, properly treated. The milk dentition is involved in the proper development of the maxilla and mandible. Milk teeth maintain space for their permanent successors. Often, premature loss of a deciduous tooth causes the development or intensification of malocclusion, which results in the need for orthodontic treatment in the future.
What is lapping?
The impregnation of the cavity consists in saturation with chemical compounds of cariously changed tooth tissues. Two compounds of silver nitrate or zinc chloride are most often used for impregnation. The first of them, due to its effectiveness, is more often used.
Lapisetting, if appropriate, can be done at a very early age.
The chemicals used for lapping have two effects. Firstly, they are bactericidal, and secondly, they cause mineralization, and therefore strengthen the softened tooth tissues. The indication for lapping are extensive flat carious lesions, in which it is not possible to put a filling, i.e. colloquially called "fillings". Such cavities occur, among others, in "bottle caries", which is often found in little ones. This type of caries is characterized by a rapid course, which in a short time causes complete destruction of the tooth crowns. The incisors are particularly at risk. Another situation that may induce a lapping procedure is a child who is uncooperative and impatient. In such a situation, it is easier to persuade the child to undergo a painless, quick procedure that will slow down the progress of the carious process until the filling is performed.possible.
After the procedure, it is very important to improve oral hygiene and change eating habits. The lapping procedure is intended to reduce the dynamics of the carious process, it will not heal the teeth and will not restore lost tooth tissues, therefore, if possible, carious cavities should be filled with appropriate dental materials.
Summarizing step by step
Impregnation of carious lesions is a painless, safe and quick procedure. It consists in rubbing two solutions one after the other into cariously changed tissues. The most commonly used solution is silver nitrate, which can be precipitated with, for example, Lugol's liquid.
The treatment begins with a thorough mechanical cleaning of the tooth from plaque and drying the tooth. The mucosa should be isolated from accidental contact with the impregnating solution. Then the first solution is thoroughly rubbed into the surface of the carious lesion, followed by the second solution (the so-called precipitator). After the procedure, the little patient should not eat or drink anything for about an hour.
The lapping cycle consists of three visits at weekly intervals. At each visit, all teeth that require it are mapped. The lapping treatment is not permanent and needs to be repeated after about 3 months, and then six months after the first impregnation.Lapping of milk teethis a procedure that can be performed as part of services financed by the National He alth Fund.
Pros and cons of lapping
Let's start with the advantages of impregnation. Undoubtedly, the fact that it is a quick and painless procedure works to the advantage of lapis. Even the most uncooperative children are usually persuaded to "paint" the teeth. Thanks to the action of chemical compounds, the caries process is inhibited and the teeth can survive. Of course, it should be remembered that when the child gains confidence in the doctor and feels a bit more confident in the dentist's office,registered teethshould be filled (if conditions allow). So lapping helps to preserve the milk teeth so that they keep the space for permanent teeth as long as possible.
The disadvantage of lapping is the fact that the most commonly used and the most effective impregnating agent (silver nitrate) causes tooth discoloration to a dark black, dark brown color. Of course, discoloration only affects the places affected by caries. He althy teeth remain unchanged in color. There are also preparations that do not discolor teeth, and the treatment with their use is the so-called colorless lapping.Preparations intended for colorless lapping are slightly less effective in inhibiting caries.
Another downside of lapping is the fact that it does not heal caries. It is a procedure aimed at slowing down or inhibiting the development of a carious cavity, so that the milk teeth remain in the mouth as long as possible, maintaining a place for permanent teeth. Lapisizing will not restore lost tissues and tooth function, therefore, whenever possible, caries treatment should consist of the preparation and filling of cavities with appropriate dental materials.