Everyone wants their child to have a healthy smile, but with all the candy and soda offered to kids these days, it’s important to give them all the protection they can get. While brushing and flossing are a crucial part of preventing tooth decay and gum disease, it can be hard for a child’s inexperienced hands to get into all the nooks and crannies in their smile. Molars can be especially difficult because they have deep pits in which bacteria and food debris can hide.
Luckily, your family dentist can treat your child’s teeth with a dental sealant to help protect them from the nasty things that might do them harm. A sealant is a thin protective coating that covers the chewing surfaces of the molars, and it can be an effective way to prevent cavities and decay. Here are a few common questions about dental sealants along with their answers.
Why Would a Child Need a Sealant?
The human mouth is home to billions of bacteria, and some of them can be harmful to your dental health. These bacteria feed on leftover food particles (they especially love sugar) and excrete acid as a byproduct. Acid is one of the most dangerous things for teeth because it erodes their outer layer of enamel, making it porous and more vulnerable to infection. A dental sealant can help prevent this from happening.
How Do Dental Sealants Work?
A dental sealant works like a suit of armor for your child’s teeth. It helps to keep food debris, bacteria, and the acid they excrete away from your child’s teeth, preventing much of the damage they can do. Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay by 80% in molars, and the CDC reports that school-age children who don’t have sealants have nearly three times the number of cavities that children with them do.
How Is a Dental Sealant Applied?
Receiving a dental sealant is quick and painless. Your dentist will carefully clean and dry your child’s teeth before placing an acidic gel on them. This gel will create more texture on the surface to help create a strong bond with the sealant. The dentist will rinse away the gel after a few seconds and dry the teeth once again. They will then apply the sealant before using a specialized ultraviolet light to harden it.
Aside from a rare allergic reaction, sealants are not known to cause any side effects. Consulting with your pediatric dentist will determine if a dental sealant is a suitable course of treatment for your child.
About the Practice
Sprout Dentistry for Kids of Allen believes that nothing is more important than creating a warm and welcoming space where children can have fun and relaxing dental appointments. Led by Drs. Justin Chan and Sage Yoo, the staff delivers results that exceed expectations while providing top-notch customer service to patients and their families. Services include checkups, cleanings, cosmetic and emergency dentistry, and dental sealants. To learn more about what a dental sealant can do for your child, contact the office online or dial (469) 663-0098.