The Ultimate Guide to Dental Sealants for Children

Dental sealants are a vital part of preventive dental care for children, offering a protective barrier against tooth decay. As parents, ensuring our children’s oral health is paramount, and understanding the role of dental sealants in New York, NY, can greatly contribute to their long-term dental wellness.

What are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealer is a thin plastic film that is put on the eating surfaces of teeth, mostly the back teeth like molars and premolars, to keep them from getting cavities. It sticks quickly to the teeth’s grooves and holes, covering the enamel on each tooth to protect it.

While regular brushing and flossing can clear away food particles and bacterial plaque from the flat surfaces of teeth, they may not reach all the crevices and corners of the back teeth. Sealants help safeguard these susceptible areas from tooth decay by blocking out plaque and food particles.

The materials used in sealants are safe and durable, ensuring long-lasting protection for teeth. These materials are specifically designed to adhere to the tooth enamel and withstand the forces of chewing.

Importance of Dental Sealants for Kids

Dental sealants play a crucial role in children’s oral health by significantly lowering the risk of tooth decay, especially in their formative years when oral hygiene habits are developing. They provide an additional layer of defense against cavities by sealing off the nooks and crannies of teeth that are difficult to clean thoroughly with a toothbrush alone.

• Preventing Tooth Decay in Children: Children are particularly susceptible to caries due to their diet and still developing oral hygiene routines. Sealants help prevent decay by creating a smooth surface that inhibits bacteria and food particles from adhering to the tooth enamel.
• Protecting Vulnerable Areas of Teeth: The chewing surfaces of molars and premolars have deep pits and fissures where food and plaque can accumulate. Sealants act as a barrier, minimizing the risk of decay in these vulnerable areas.

Benefits of Dental Sealants

Safety Concerns: Sealants are made from a resin, which is a type of plastic. Some people worry about the presence of BPA, a synthetic compound that can be harmful in large amounts. However, not all sealants contain BPA, and those with only trace amounts are well below harmful levels.

Application Process: Sealants begin as a liquid the dentist applies to the teeth. The resin bonds securely to the tooth once it hardens. After application, a special curing light speeds up the hardening process, typically taking just a few minutes per tooth. The procedure is painless, so numbing the mouth beforehand is unnecessary. Depending on the number of teeth treated, the process usually lasts about half an hour.

Appearance: Sealants are often transparent or slightly tooth-colored, blending in with natural teeth once applied and hardened. They are commonly used on less visible back teeth.

Durability: On average, dental sealants typically last around five years, with some lasting up to 10 years. For children, this provides crucial protection during their cavity-prone years. Dentists monitor sealants during routine check-ups and reapply them as needed.

Cost Efficiency: Sealants are a cost-effective preventive measure compared to the expense of fillings. By averting the need for multiple fillings, sealants can lead to significant long-term savings.

How Dental Sealants Protect Against Cavities

Dental sealants protect against cavities through their unique mechanism of action, which involves both physical and chemical barriers to decay. Understanding how sealants work can help parents appreciate their effectiveness in maintaining children’s dental health.

• Mechanism of Action Against Bacteria: Sealants physically block dental bacteria and food debris from settling into the grooves of teeth, where decay commonly starts. This reduces the risk of cavities by up to 80% in the sealed teeth.
• Sealant Application Process: Dental sealants involve cleaning the tooth surface, applying an adhesive to help the sealant bond, and then carefully painting the sealant material onto the tooth enamel. Once applied, the dental sealant is hardened using a special curing light, ensuring a durable and protective coating.

Who Should Get Dental Sealants?

Due to the high risk of decay in the grooves and depressions of premolars and molars, kids and teenagers are ideal candidates for sealants. However, even adults with healthy molars can benefit from sealants.

When permanent molars and premolars erupt, children should usually have sealants applied as soon as possible. This early application helps protect the teeth during the cavity-prone years, typically between ages 6 to 14.

In certain cases, dental sealants may also be suitable for baby teeth, especially when they have deep grooves and depressions. Because baby teeth are important for keeping the space between permanent teeth, it’s important to keep them healthy so you don’t lose them too soon.

The Process of Applying Dental Sealants

When a dentist or dental hygienist applies dental sealants, it’s a simple and painless process. It involves multiple steps to apply the sealants effectively and provide optimal protection against cavities.

• Step-by-Step Procedure: The pediatric dentist near you starts to clean and dry the teeth that will be capped. An acidic gel is put on the tooth to make the surface a little rougher, which helps the sealing material stick better. The sealant is carefully put onto the enamel after the teeth are rinsed and dried again. A hardening light is then used to fix the sealant.
• Duration and Comfort During Application: The entire process typically takes only a few minutes per tooth and requires no anesthesia. Children usually find the procedure comfortable and quick, with no downtime afterward.

Conclusion

Dental sealants are a valuable preventive measure in pediatric dentistry, offering substantial benefits in cavity prevention and long-term dental health. By understanding their importance and ensuring timely application, parents can safeguard their children’s smiles and reduce future dental expenses. Investing in dental sealants early on protects against cavities and promotes a positive attitude towards oral hygiene from a young age.

Ready to protect your child’s smile?

Schedule a consultation with an orthodontist near you to learn more about dental sealants and ensure your kid’s dental health is in good hands. Contact Smile Up NY today to book an appointment and give your child the gift of a cavity-free smile. Don’t wait—preventive care starts now!