Here at Augusta Pediatric Dentistry we believe preventative care is the best care for your child’s teeth. One way your child can prevent cavities and tooth decay is using something called a sealant. This short procedure can help protect your child’s teeth so they can keep smiling longer.
What Are Sealants?
Dental sealants are invisible coatings placed over your child’s back teeth to prevent them from developing tooth decay and cavities. The sealant is made out of a plastic resin which matches your child’s tooth color so it can’t be seen normally.
They are placed over the back teeth since these are most prone to tooth decay. This is because it’s harder for your child to reach back and brush thoroughly enough to get all the bacteria and plaque out.
Does My Child Need Sealants?
While brushing and flossing is still the best way to avoid cavities and tooth decay, sealants are a great extra help to further maintain dental health. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control reports that school-age children without sealants have nearly three times more cavities than those with sealants. Since molars are the teeth which are most prone to cavities, sealants can be a great way to help keep your child’s teeth cavity-free.
How Do Sealants Work?
Sealants are like plastic gloves for your child’s teeth. Since sealant is made of a plastic resin, food may get on them, but your child’s molars are never exposed to the bacteria and plaque that comes with eating. This keeps your child’s molars stronger longer.
How Are Sealants Applied?
Our staff will thoroughly clean your child’s teeth so no bacteria is present. An acidic gel will be placed on the back molars which acts as a kind of glue for the plastic resin. Once the plastic resin is introduced, the sealant and gel is hardened with a blue light.
Because it’s so simple, this procedure is not only quick but also usually painless for your child.
How Long Do Sealants Last?
So long as regular brushing and flossing continues, sealants can last up to several years before they need to be replaced. These means one quick procedure may help keep your child’s molars less prone to cavities for potentially several regular checkups before they need to be reapplied.
How Does My Child Take Care of Sealants?
No extra care needs to be taken with sealants. Remember to have your child brush their teeth twice a day and floss daily. Sealants generally don’t stain or come loose, so your child can eat just as they were before without having to avoid hard foods or dark drinks such as tea or cola.
Talk to Dr. Miller about getting sealants today!