Sealants are extremely important for children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control in report released in October of 2016, “school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.” Usually, the first set of molars emerges around age 6, and the others break the gum surface around age 12. Rookie tooth-brushers tend to focus on the visible front teeth more than the way-way back teeth no one notices. Thus, sealants are perfect preventative care for younger children’s back molars.
Dr. Wells and his expert team of dental professionals want you to consider dental sealants for your children’s precious teeth.
What Are Dental Sealants?
A sealant is a thin, protective coating placed on the back teeth’s chewing surface. The sealant keeps food particles and bacteria from residing on the tooth. These little pieces of food particles team up with bacteria in our mouths to create damaging holes in our teeth known as cavities.
Why Should I Consider Sealants For My Children?
Sealants are protective barriers against cavities. For those harder-to-reach molars, sealants can reduce the risk of dental decay by nearly 80%. Sealants help your children’s back teeth because food and germs tend to hide out in the grooves (or fissures) and pits that are often missed in the brushing process. Although usually for children and teenagers, adults can get sealants for molars that do not have decay or fillings.
The Benefits of Sealants
- The process is quick, easy, and painless.
- They can last up to 10 years when properly maintained with brushing, flossing, and regular check-ups.
- They can be unnoticeable if they are clear or white sealants.
- Many insurance companies cover this process.
Applying a sealant is a painless, quick procedure. First, Dr. Wells will clean and dry your child’s tooth. Then, an acidic gel is applied to the tooth. This gel forms a rough surface that will help the sealant stick. Dr. Wells will rinse and clean the tooth again. Finally, the liquid sealant is applied which will harden in just a few seconds, producing a protective shield for those back molars.