According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease afflicting children. Fortunately, your Fairview dentist recommends dental sealants for kids at higher risk for cavities.
Continue reading to learn how your child’s dental health could benefit from dental sealants, and see how you can safeguard your family’s dental health at your Fairview, TX family dentist.
Even though we may teach our children good dental habits at an early age such as regular brushing and flossing. Children tend to have a higher risk of dental cavities than adults because of multiple of factors. They may get distracted while brushing, not brushing long enough, or not brushing certain spots like the back teeth or hard to get areas.
To prevent cavities from occurring, your dentist will recommend sealants on the molars along with good oral hygiene. Sealants create a protective barrier over the grooves and pits of your child’s molars, which are more vulnerable to tooth decay, cavities, and plaque than other teeth.
Sealants help reduce the risk of tooth decay by blocking areas where food particles and plaque can collect. It does this by filling the grooves and pits on the back teeth. They also add protection against tooth decay in highly exposed positions, such as the chewing surfaces of molars. Tooth decay happens when plaque (bacteria) builds up and feeds on the sugar and starch left behind from the foods and drinks we eat. When the bacteria feed on this, it produces acids that erode the tooth enamel, which will eventually cause tooth decay and, in extreme cases, gum disease.
Dental sealing is a quick, easy, painless, and effective process that can be completed in one visit. Besides sealants, It’s important to schedule your child’s routine teeth cleaning and oral examination every 6 months so your Fairview dentist can remove plaque buildup and monitor your child’s oral health.
Dental sealants can help prevent dental cavities in susceptible teeth, but there are other benefits of dental sealants. Some of the benefits of sealants includes…
After a child’s permanent molars have grown in around age 5 or 6, dental sealants can be applied to the molars. When placing sealants, the teeth are cleaned and dried, a fluoride gel is applied, and the dental sealant is painted on to cover the chewing surfaces of the teeth and bonded to the tooth with UV light. The sealant acts as a layer of protection that protects the tooth from decay by providing a smooth surface that bacteria cannot easily colonize.
Your Fairview dentist will need to do an examination, but in general, if you have a tooth in the early stages of a cavity and the tooth’s health is overall good, your dentist can use dental sealants to hold the cavity at bay. After the tooth is treated, the sealant will be placed on the back of the tooth and will harden overtime to protect the tooth.
Dental sealants keep your child’s teeth healthy for an average of 3-5 years. Even after receiving the dental sealant treatment, children still need regular dental checkups and still need to practice proper oral health habits to keep them from failing. In the event they are damaged, your family dentist can repair them.
While it’s true that sealants are a great way to protect a child’s teeth, they can also protect an adult’s teeth. The application process is the same – and the end result – a protected smile – is beneficial for all ages. In cases where the individual has deep grooves and pitting on the back teeth, a sealant can help protect these cavities from damaging your teeth even further.
Coverage will depend on your dental insurance policy but in most cases, many health insurance providers will cover the cost of dental sealants if your dentist recommends them. If your dental insurance plan does not offer such coverage or you have no insurance, sealants are a cost-effective way to prevent cavities and other health problems and keep your teeth healthy and strong.
At Sloan Creek Dental, we provide excellent pediatric dental care to patients and families in a warm and comfortable environment. Regular dental checkups and preventative measures such as sealants are worth the investment. Your pediatric dentist in Fairview, TX, can help parents/guardians protect their child’s teeth through effective dental care.
If you have questions about dental sealants for children and adults, please call our office (972) 468-1440 in Fairview, TX, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
