Are Dental Sealants Safe For My Child?

The leading cause of dental infections and diseases is the infestation of the mouth with dental plaques. Dental plaques are slimy films of bacteria that stick to the teeth, which form due to the interaction between bacteria in the mouth, saliva, and remnants of food particles. They are the major causes of the most common dental problems we face today, including tooth decay, gum disease, etc. Tooth decay can cause a lot of damage to your oral health, including tooth sensitivity, toothache, and even loss of teeth. However, you can protect your children’s teeth with the use of dental sealants.

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that dentists place on the chewing (occlusal) surfaces of the permanent back teeth (premolars or molars) to prevent tooth decay and other dental diseases that dental plaques can cause. The molars have large, rough chewing surfaces and long, narrow openings, lines, or breakage known as fissures. It is easy for food to get stuck in these fissures and harder for children to clean their teeth. When food remains in these fissures for a long time, it bonds with bacteria and saliva to form dental plaques, which cause your teeth to decay. However, fissure sealants protect your children’s teeth.

Why Should You Get Dental Sealants For Your Kids?

The following are reasons why you should get dental sealants in Coopersburg, PA, for your kids:

• Dental sealants cover the teeth and protect them from bacteria, food particles, and other elements of tooth decay. With dental sealants in place, you do not need to worry about your child’s teeth.
• Dental sealants reduce the extent of plaque formation. Dental plaques need sugary/starchy food particles to form; it is harder to have leftover food particles in the mouth with dental sealants in place.
• Dental sealants make the teeth smooth and easy to clean. The molars and premolars contain pits and grooves that are usually hard to clean for children. However, dental plaques help to smoothen the surfaces of these teeth, thereby making them easier to clean.
• Dental sealants are cost-effective. They prevent you from needing frequent dental visits and cleanings.
• Dental sealants do not allow food particles to get stuck in the mouth.
• Dentists may also recommend sealants for sensitive teeth.

Dental Sealant Application

A dental sealant procedure is so painless and straightforward that you might not be required to be under anesthesia. The entire process only takes a few minutes for each tooth. A dental sealant application procedure begins with thorough washing and cleaning of the surface of the teeth to be sealed. That is done with paste and brush, after which the teeth are washed with water and dried. Dentists apply an acid solution to the chewing surfaces to roughen the surfaces of the teeth for better bonding.

After a few minutes, your dentist will rinse the teeth with water and dry it; then, the sealants go on the teeth. The dental sealants are painted on the tooth surface where they bond and harden. Sometimes, to aid bonding, special curing is employed to harden the teeth. The sealed tooth, after hardening, becomes a hard plastic varnish coating. At this point, your teeth can resume their regular duties.

Are Dental Sealants Safe For Children?

According to the Centers for Disease control, dental sealants are safe for your kids. Dental sealants have proven to reduce the risk of cavities by almost 80% in molars and premolars, which is very important for children. Children aged 6 to 14 are very prone to a dental cavity and are more likely to develop decay in the depressions and grooves of their molars and premolars. With the presence of dental sealants in your kids’ mouths, you do not have to worry about the sweet and sugary things they eat affecting their teeth.

Please book an appointment with us at Coopersburg Dental right away for your child’s sealants.