While the best oral hygiene practice is to brush and floss daily, it is not easy for kids to maintain this practice as adults do. An adult can easily clean every mouth area, but a child can hardly do the same. Dental sealants play an important role in protecting your child from cavities.
The back teeth, or molars, are normally the most difficult areas in the mouth to brush, and bacteria can easily hide there to wreak havoc and cause tooth cavities. Dental sealants are an extra protective barrier that helps seal out plaque buildup and food particles. They stop cavities from occurring in your child’s teeth.
Dental sealants are one of many techniques used by the pediatric dentist Weston, FL, to ensure that your child’s teeth are as healthy as they should be. Here is what you should know about dental sealants and why your child should get them.
What is a dental sealant?
A dental sealant is a coating covering the teeth to reduce the risk of cavities. The American Dental Association (ADA) defines dental sealants as “teeth raincoats.” Every time you chew food, bacteria and food crumbs settle in the tight pockets between the teeth, exposing the teeth to plaque buildup.
Brushing and flossing can remove plaque that accumulates on the surface of teeth, but the acid that the bacteria produces forms tiny holes, otherwise known as cavities, in the teeth that still linger. A dental sealant is the teeth’s defensive layer.
It stands between the harmful acids and your teeth. Your child can wear dental sealants for over a decade, making it an excellent preventive procedure for protecting your child’s oral health. This protective barrier can save your child from having dental problems in the future because tooth cavities are the leading cause of nearly all oral issues.
Why Your Child Should Get Dental Sealants
To Stay Protected Against Dental Cavities
Cavities occur in adults and children, but most cavities in adults result from poor oral health during childhood. Therefore, when your child loses temporary teeth and begins to grow permanent teeth, it will be the best time to get dental sealants. Dental sealants protect the teeth by covering the top of the molars with a tooth-colored resin made of plastic.
The covering on the teeth prevents bacteria from hanging around on the tooth surface. Bacteria cannot break the barrier to attack the protected tooth enamel. So, dental sealant is one of the safest teeth-protecting measures your child needs to keep off cavities.
Dental Sealants Are Beneficial for All Kids
Whether or not your child has excellent oral hygiene care, there is no immunity to tooth decay. Normally, the grooves in a tooth can be a perfect residence for bacteria to settle and cause harm. Furthermore, during brushing, children are expected to use toothbrushes with soft bristles so that they do not harm their tender gums. Moreover, their toothbrushes cannot reach the deep grooves.
Since children will likely leave behind some cavity-causing bacteria while brushing, even when you monitor their brushing up to two to three times a day, dental sealants will be an added advantage to help them withstand cavities. Sealants are usually coated on the surface of each tooth to improve a healthy smile.
The Dental Sealant Process Is Rapid and Painless
It is simple to get dental sealants. The process is not painful, and it does not even take all day to apply it. The Weston Children’s Dentistry offers dental sealant procedures to kids. Your child’s dentist will first clean the teeth in preparation for using the sealant material.
The dentist prepares the teeth using a mild teeth cleaning agent, similar in potency to vinegar and lemon juice. The solution helps keep each tooth surface rough, allowing the sealant material to hold firmly to the tooth.
After preparing the tooth, the acrylic sealant is coated to cover each tooth layer. The sealant material also flows into grooves and depressions on the teeth, filling them in. The dentist leaves it to harden for 2 or more minutes to seal it. From that time onward, your child will stay safe from bacteria that settle in the pits and grooves.
They are Long-Lasting
Your child can get sealants and stay protected for many years. Dental sealants safeguard the teeth throughout the years. A child is liable to have cavities. With proper oral care hygiene and avoiding biting on hard objects or chewing hard food, dental sealants can last a long time. During a routine visit to children’s dentistry in Weston, your child can get a sealant inspection. If there is a problem, your kid’s dentist can suggest a repair or reapplication.
You Save Money by Using Sealant
Aside from dental sealants being a quick and painless teeth-protecting procedure for a child’s teeth, they are more cost-effective than restorative dentistry. However, many dental insurance companies provide insurance that covers dental sealants in their treatment highlights. Dental sealants prevent the need for costly and painful cavity treatments, making them the most preventative option for kids.
Children Benefit From an Early Age
For better protection, dental sealing is necessary once your child begins to develop permanent teeth. Children aged six to six can benefit most from dental sealants because their first permanent molars are visible at this time.
However, sealants are appropriate for all ages. They are useful for adults just like they are for kids. Although children are most likely to use dental sealants, anyone using them can also have the same result. Older patients who have concerns with their grooves and feel the need to cover them can do so to safeguard the teeth from bacteria.
Conclusion
Dental sealants protect your child’s teeth and are a barrier to keeping cavities off. Children who cover their grooves with dental sealants will be less likely to suffer from oral problems. If your child has started growing permanent teeth, visit your dentist to help protect that tooth! Weston Dental can give your child a confident smile and boost their self-confidence.