Parents do a great job at teaching children proper oral care at an early age. Children brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing every day helps ensure developing teeth stay clean and strong. As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Paul Whitney at Country Club Dental also has another tool to help further protect a child’s teeth from cavities—dental sealants. Let’s take a closer look at what dental sealants for kids are and how they work.
What are dental sealants?
A dental sealant is a very thin, plastic coating placed around a tooth. Dental sealants are usually applied to the molars, which are the back teeth that do most of the chewing when you’re eating whole foods.
Research shows when a dentist applies a dental sealant to a child’s back teeth, the sealant helps prevent 80% of cavities from forming.
Dental sealant application is very quick and painless. The dentist applies the liquid sealant using a brush, which helps the sealant get into all the grooves of the tooth.
The dentist then uses a special light to harden the sealant. Under this light, the sealant hardens very quickly within just a minute or two. Once it is dry, the sealant creates a barrier around the tooth surface, stopping bacteria and food particles from adhering to the tooth.
Sealants for teeth normally last for up to five years. The dentist will check the sealants during all routine exams to make sure they are still in place.
Because dental insurance companies consider dental sealants for kids a preventative measure, most will cover this treatment.
Can you get sealants at any age?
We recommend children have dental sealants applied to their first set of molars around the age of 6. Then, when their final set of adult molars come in between the ages of 12 to 14, a dentist applies sealants to those as well.
Did you know adults can also get dental sealants? That’s right—they’re not just for kids! We find adults also benefit from the added protection sealants for teeth provide against tooth decay and cavities.
Pediatric Dentistry in Flagstaff
Dental sealants are a tool that parents can use to safeguard their childrens’ teeth from cavities and other dental issues. And because they last for a long time, sealants for teeth can help keep teeth protected into a child’s teen years and beyond.
If you would like to talk to Dr. Paul Whitney or the Country Club Dental staff about dental sealants for kids or adults, call us today at 928-526-4314.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (3/4/22). Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
