The Importance of Dental Sealants for Children | Family Dentistry, Wichita, KS
If you have children, you know it may be challenging for them to clean the hard-to-reach areas in the back of their mouths. While regular brushing and flossing help fight against cavities, leftover food particles and bacteria can increase plaque buildup and lead to eventual tooth decay. By opting for dental sealants to protect your child’s molars, you can help reduce the chances of them developing cavities and help keep their smile looking bright for years to come. At Cambridge Family Dentistry in Wichita, Kansas, our team has experience providing dental sealants to young patients and has detailed everything you need to know below!
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are protective coatings that cover the teeth and act as a defensive layer between harmful acids and your pearly whites. When you eat, food particles and bacteria can settle into the pockets between your teeth, which may eventually lead to the formation of holes in the teeth, known as cavities. The thin coating of durable plastic painted on the molars during the sealant process acts as a barrier against cavities and has been proven safe and effective in inhibiting the development of cavities. Regardless of your child’s oral hygiene routine, sealants create a smoother tooth surface, as cleaning every groove of the molar is extremely difficult!
How Are Dental Sealants Applied?
At Cambridge Family Dentistry in Wichita, our team works hard to ensure each patient is comfortable during the dental sealant procedure. First, your dentist will clean the targeted tooth and dry it with absorbent material before applying an etching solution for the sealant to adhere to. Then, your child’s tooth will be cleaned again before the sealant is placed and cured with ultraviolet light. Unlike tooth fillings that compromise your child’s natural tooth structure, dental sealants are a safe investment to help prevent tooth decay from damaging their molars. Overall, dental sealant procedures take relatively little time and are completely pain-free, as your child will be able to resume all regular activity and oral hygiene practices as soon as they leave the dentist’s office!
Should My Children Get Dental Sealants?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dental sealants can prevent 80% of cavities up to two years after application, with children three times more susceptible to cavities when not coated with dental sealants. Our team recommends scheduling your child’s dental sealants appointments once their permanent teeth have grown in, between ages six and fourteen. By sealing these permanent teeth as soon as they come through, you can help encourage healthy oral hygiene habits and keep your children cavity-free at a young age, saving you a great amount of time and money down the road.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in all articles published on the Cambridge Family Dentistry website do not necessarily reflect the views of our staff members at Cambridge Family Dentistry.
What Are Dental Sealants?
