Awareness of the importance and benefits of applying dental sealants has increased over the last couple of decades. A dental sealant is a protective barrier that covers the teeth. The sealants prevent food and bacteria from contributing to forming cavities. With a comprehensive dental care routine that includes proper brushing, flossing, fluoride treatments as well as proper food and beverage consumption in addition to regularly scheduled dental visits, sealants are an aid to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. Sealants provide additional protection for the grooved areas of teeth from what is known as pit and fissure decay, though brushing and flossing are critical components of any dental health regimen for your little ones. Today, we at Smile Reef would like to elaborate briefly on dental sealants for your kids.
Pit & Fissure Sealants Procedure
Around the age for most children, dental sealants should be applied as soon as possible after permanent tooth eruption for maximum protection. By a trained dental professional, both dentists and dental hygienists are qualified; the sealants are placed during an office visit. Before the sealing procedure, the teeth undergo an exam and a detailed professional cleaning. A substance is applied on dried teeth, where it will be rinsed and dried again. A special light is placed above the tooth to harden the sealant onto the tooth surface after the sealant material is administered to the biting surface of the tooth. The procedure is typically quick and painless and the child doesn’t have any recovery time.
Dental Sealant Procedure Time
Numbing medications are not necessary and there is no drilling involved. The dental sealant procedure is relatively fast and usually painless.
1) Teeth Preparation. The dental hygienist will remove plaque and food debris from the pit and fissure surfaces from the tooth by first polishing the tooth’s surface. The tooth is then isolated and dried. From there the hygienist etches the surface of the tooth, rinses off the etching debris, and dries the tooth again.
2) Application of Sealant. Using a brush, the dental hygienist or dentist, will administer the dental sealant material directly to the tooth’s surface. In order to bond the sealant to the tooth surface,
a self-curing light will be used for about 30 seconds.
3) Procedure is Evaluated. The dental hygienist and dentist conclude the procedure by evaluating the dental sealant and checking its occlusion. The dental sealant will harden where it becomes a hard plastic coating. Once this occurs, your child can eats and drink again.
How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?
With the proper care, sealants can last up to 10 years. Over time, they gradually wear away. The sealants hold up remarkably well to normal chewing and eating habits. During your child’s dental exams, the dentist will assess the integrity of the sealant, and should the sealant experience expedited wear, the sealant can be reapplied as well as reapplied when it naturally wears down. If you are interested in getting sealants for your children, call Smile Reef, we can book your appointment and our dental experts can answer any questions you may have during your appointment and child’s exam.
If you have a child or you are going to have one, you want to make sure you know how to best care for them. You need to determine when the child needs health care and when to start changing their diet as they age. Another aspect of the child health and development that you want to have a good idea about is their oral health. It does not mean the care of just their teeth but everything that is in their mouth. The interesting thing is that you need to change how you care for your child oral hygiene based on their age. As they grow their mouth will change as well as the things that they are eating. That is why you need to know what to do and when to make these changes.
Smile Reef Offers Tips for Child Dental Care & Oral Hygiene Instruction for Parents
Newborn Oral Care: When you have just had a new baby the last thing that you want to worry about is their dental care. The problem is that just as important their vaccinations are and feeding them a full meal their oral care is on the list too. A new baby will be feeding strictly on mother’s milk or formula through a bottle. The baby getting this type of food can bring the nutrients that the child needs but it can build upon their tongue and their gums. When the baby is in infancy you want to start with a soft clean cloth to wipe down the babies mouth after they are done eating. This will also stimulate the babies gums which will bring the blood flow to them. There are some children that will start to develop teeth and when they do you want to also use a soft baby toothbrush on their fresh teeth two times a day. This will make sure that the buildup is removed from the teeth as well. Toddler Dental Care to Avoid Tooth Decay: When you have a toddler they seem to want to get into everything. They also are getting to an age that they want to be independent. When it comes to their oral health it is a great age to start showing them how to brush their teeth. They should have all their baby teeth in and learning good technique early can help in the long run. Although you are teaching them it is important that you continue to do the thorough cleaning for several years. Tooth Care for Older Children & Teens: The next step of a child’s oral care is when they are on their own when it comes to brushing. This is the time in their life that they need to be brushing well at least two times a day. They also should be flossing on a regular basis. Any extra care that is needed will be determined when the child gets to the dentist. The child should have began their dental treatments when they start to cut their first teeth. This will help to keep the child calm about going to the dentist.
Pediatric Dental Care
Smile Reef is a pediatric dentist that has kind and gentle dentists to keep your child at ease. Call us to schedule your next appointment today.
Las Vegas Children's Dentist
Most parents and guardians of little children, if not all, are greatly concerned about the growth and development of children's teeth especially in this day and age where almost any food available in groceries and restaurants are loaded with sugar and or sucrose which greatly contribute to the formation of cavities, eventually resulting to tooth decay. From the time that the first set of baby teeth comes out, pediatric dentists would already heavily advise parents to start a religious and proper care routine of their children's teeth to ensure that the proper development of these important part of a child's mouth are done with the right techniques and required consistency. Caring for baby and children's teeth takes a lot of effort since children are not expected to care for their own set due to their limitations in capacity and information. That is why until children reach the stage where they are capable to care for their own teeth comes, the weight of the call rests on the shoulders of the parents. It is for this reason that proper oral care for children begins with choosing the right dental office which houses the best pediatric dentists who will be the partner of parents in ensuring that their children's oral care are safeguarded. Las Vegas Children's Dentist is a dynamic and vibrant supporter in the campaign against early onset of tooth decay in children's teeth. Certified and competent, this Dentist for kids in Las Vegas, very carefully and thoroughly instruct and teach good oral care to parents and children. This dentist follows the best practices in worldwide standards and features state of the art dental equipment that allows not only for the best oral care of each patient but also creating an environment that is friendly and accommodating to kids and children who frequent this pediatric dentist office in Las Vegas.
To begin early oral care for babies, a competent and friendly Las Vegas dentist from a reputable pediatric dentist office will advise that even before the eruption of the teeth, a child's mouth and gums should be wiped after meals with a clean, soft damp cloth to make sure that excess food would not linger in the mouth. These excess foods when left in a moist area like the mouth would form bacteria which would eventually get lodged in the baby's first set of teeth triggering the beginning of tooth decay. A meticulous and caring kids dentist in Las Vegas would also advise that to prevent the onset of pre-mature cavities, it is best to give babies plain water when sipping at bedtime to prevent baby formula - which sometimes contain sugar - from settling in the mouth which also invites cavity formation. Once the first set of baby teeth comes out, the practice of brushing should also commence, normally beginning with soft bristled baby toothbrush combined with a non-fluoride toothpaste or even just plain warm water to gently clean every part of the emerging teeth. A licensed Las Vegas children's dentist is a strong support in making sure that these early oral care regimens are done by the parents regularly to avoid unnecessary formation of tooth decay that could prove to be costly to take away using dental procedures. Children's dentist in Las Vegas recommends that children's toothbrushes should be replaced every two to three months taking special note of the appearance of the head bristles to make sure that they still serve their purpose of thoroughly cleaning the teeth. There are several pediatric dentist in Las Vegas so one must be very careful to choose the best, and the best pediatric dental clinic must not only be concerned about treatment but more so on prevention methods. So far Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is a cut above all other pediatric clinics because of its practices on preventative measures that do away with costly teeth drilling and fillings.
Children develop their baby teeth as preparatory ground for the eruption of the final adult teeth which they would use for the rest of their lives. Many parents feel that since baby teeth would still be replaced, they could be more relaxed in spearheading for their children's oral care. But this is very far from the truth since the condition and health of the baby teeth would also greatly determine the condition and health of the permanent teeth. Parents are advised that the first visit of their children to the dentist should happen when babies are 12 months old and prior coaching such as open your mouth or saying 'ahhh' must be done to avoid too much time on the dental chair which might be very scary for some kids. Dental patients could rest assured that reputable pediatric dentist in Las Vegas would be more concerned with prevention but would also be very competent when treatment is necessary. A parent could expect that a children's dentist in Las Vegas is well trained in handling children especially the first timers who might have reservations in seeing a dentist for the first time let alone open their mouth for a stranger. But the first visits to the dentist are crucial because those are the times when good oral plan is discussed aside from giving out the message to the children that dentists are friends not enemies to increase their trust and confidence with them. A well trained dentist for kids in Las Vegas would also discuss the availability of important pediatric care such as the application of fluoride and sealants that help protect baby teeth from plaque and cavities. The substance fluoride help make the teeth stronger by protecting them from the initiation of dental caries and tooth decay while at the same time re-mineralizing areas of the teeth that get weakened by acid coming from leftover food or juices which the children consume.
Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is known as one of the best pediatric dentistry all over the United States which practices not only the best dental techniques using state of the art equipment, a Las Vegas dentist also has the best techniques and rapport with children patients giving them a wonderful experience inside the clinic that helps ensure repeat comebacks for consistent and thorough oral care. Las Vegas pediatric patients could expect that as they step inside a Las Vegas pediatric dentist office they would experience the best pre and post care evaluations not to mention above standard procedures including the application of necessary treatments that are non-threatening, very friendly and truly professional. Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is unchallenged when it comes to everything that makes oral care for children fantastic and something to look forward to and having children as clients that speaks highly of the credibility and expertise that a kids dentist in Las Vegas has to showcase and bring to the table. So next time you are in great need of an expert in oral care for you and especially for your young children - including those cute toddlers- consider pediatric dentistry in Las Vegas and you might not go anywhere else after trying its services. With the rising cost of dental care each year, wouldn't you want every dime you spent on it to be truly worth it? And wouldn't you want to see those beautiful and sparkly teeth on your children as they flash you their beautiful smiles? All of these and more could be yours by just visiting a reputable Las Vegas pediatric dental clinic. Check your directory for assistance or better yet take the word of our loyal customers who have given their generous testimonials of how happy and satisfied they are with our services. We assure you that you will have the best oral care on our hands and we will ensure that your children's teeth are not only taken cared of, they will also pass on the legacy of consistent and excellent oral care with their children and their children's children.
The Las Vegas Dentist Office
One of the best kid friendly dental offices you will find in the state of Nevada is the Las Vegas Pediatric Dentist Office. It's got the best ways and practices of making sure pediatric patients are well taken cared of and assured of warm, non-threatening dental procedures that help them ease up and become comfortable in this environment. Many parents regard a beautiful pediatric dental experience as part of the success why children stick to proper oral acre and why they regards a dental visit as an exciting adventure rather than a traumatic one. The Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is one of the top pediatric dental practices not only in the whole State but could also be compared, if not above, other dental pediatric practices in the United States. Parents coming from other nearby States bring their children to experience pediatric dentistry in Las Vegas because of its very popular kid-friendly atmosphere that children would sometimes forget they are inside a dental office. Parents love that their children are having a great time while having their excellent oral check up or procedures and children enjoy because it's like going to the zoo or the park where the environment is fun and lively and not scary at all. From themed rooms with matching themed cups and bibs, the pediatric dentist office in Las Vegas is a must see and must experience for all children. The pediatric dentists are well trained and well equipped to handle pediatric patients but the thing that endears all of them to their kid patients is the way they make cleaning teeth an exciting and fun thing to do rather than a boring chore that must be done regularly. And if dental procedures are needed such as drillings and putting of sealants, the expertise of a Las Vegas Dentist would surpass everyone's expectations including adults and parents who often have had traumatic experiences inside a dental office. So come now and visit us and see and feel the difference or better yet let your children tell you the difference with their exciting dental experience Truly it is like not going to the dentists at all!