3 Ways Your Child Benefits From Dental Sealants
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting American children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fortunately, our pediatric dentist can recommend dental sealants for children at higher risk for cavities.
Even if your child brushes and flosses every day, they could be leaving behind dental plaque on back teeth where it’s hard to reach. Continue reading to learn what dental sealants are and how your child could benefit from receiving them.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are thin coatings that can be painted or brushed onto the chewing surface of your child’s molars as a preventive measure. There are narrow fissures and pits located on the top of these back teeth. Sealants act as a protective shield and prevent plaque from hiding inside these hard-to-brush grooves.
How Long Do Sealants Last?
After they are applied to your teeth, dental sealants can do their job for up to 10 years if proper oral hygiene is maintained. If a sealant somehow falls off or becomes worn, our pediatric dentist can reapply them at your child’s next checkup appointment.
Benefits of Dental Sealants
1. Prevent Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is a common issue we see with our young patients. Fortunately, our pediatric dentist can prevent most cavities with dental sealants. Sealants make it hard for food particles and plaque to collect inside of the grooves present on the back molars.
Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that builds up on your child’s teeth. Dental plaque feeds on sugar and starch left behind on your child’s teeth before producing acids that erode enamel.
It’s important that you schedule your child’s routine teeth cleaning and oral examination every 6 months so we can remove plaque buildup and monitor oral health. Otherwise, excess plaque can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
2. Avoid Dental Fillings
No one likes the sound of a dental drill, especially when it’s meant for them. Fortunately, dental sealants are designed to on back teeth. That way, your child can get a clean bill of health during their next appointment with us.
Placing a dental filling involves removing decayed tooth matter. Our dentist would then restore the tooth with a filling made from tooth-colored composite resin. In contrast, the procedure to apply dental sealants is noninvasive.
To apply sealants, our dentist will need to clean and dry the tooth before using a solution to roughen the surface of your child’s tooth. This is necessary as it allows the sealant to form a strong connection to the tooth. Next, we’ll gently paint the sealant on so it can bond and harden properly. After it has been fully applied, your child is done!
3. Maintain a Healthy Smile
Our pediatric dentist wants to help your child build a strong foundation for oral health. For this reason, we may recommend dental sealants if we see that your child is prone to tooth decay. Other ways to protect your child’s oral health include enforcing teeth brushing, flossing, and scheduling their appointments with us every 6 months.
are best for patients who have deep pits and divots in back teeth. Recent studies have even hinted at a connection between genetics and a person’s susceptibility for tooth decay. Fortunately, our dentist can use dental sealants to prevent future cavities from forming.
Keep Cavities Away
Aren’t sure if dental sealants are the right choice for your child’s smile? Ask our pediatric dentist about what you can do to prevent tooth decay and other issues that compromise oral health. To schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentist in Hudsonville, MI, call (616) 209-4039.
This blog post has been updated.
