Our children’s teeth are impacted by the various modern day conveniences. Juices, soda, candies, even ice are prime examples that expedite tooth decay. By the time a child has reached the age of 19, approximately 70% of them will experience excessive tooth decay according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. If consuming the wrong beverages and foods is not minimized and proper oral hygiene implemented, your child’s mouth will be riddled with cavities all too soon. Dental sealants could help protect the still developing mouth, giving parents additional help in preserving young one’s teeth. At this time, we at Smile Reef would like to take the opportunity to discuss sealants.
What Are Pediatric Dental Sealants?
For the purpose of sealing out food and bacteria which result in cavities, a protective barrier can be placed on children’s teeth. This barrier is called a pediatric dental sealant. A diligent and meticulous dental care routine including; proper brushing, flossing, fluoride treatments and a healthy diet along with dental sealants maximize and maintain dental health. Sealants provide additional protection with the essential brushing and flossing, for the grooved areas of teeth from what is known as pit and fissure decay. By the age of 6, children begin getting their permanent AKA adult teeth. Around 12 years old the molars are coming in, giving parents the opportunity to have sealants applied to their teeth. The front teeth can be sealed while waiting for the rest of the teeth to come through. This procedure is safe and efficient and the dental sealants are low cost and if your child is especially prone to cavities, sealants are ideal.
Pros of Dental Sealants
Benefits of dental sealants include the following.
– Dental sealants are extremely effective in preventing cavities in conjunction with well established oral hygiene habits.
– Sealants often cost less than cavity filling procedures.
– Minimally invasive, safe, and effective sealants are a simple procedure that has does not require any numbing medications or drilling applications.
Dental Pit & Fissure Sealant Procedure
1) Tooth preparation: The dental hygienist starts the procedure by polishing the surface of the tooth; removing any plaque and food debris from the pit and fissure exterior. Next, the tooth is isolated and dried. After the tooth is dried, the outer layer of the tooth is etched off where it is then rinsed off and the tooth dried again.
2) Dental sealant application: Following the prep work, the hygienist will use a brush to apply the dental sealant coating to the surface of the tooth, for about 30 seconds a self-curing light will then be used to secure the sealant to the tooth surface.
3) Assessment: Once the service is complete the dental hygienist and dentist will evaluate the dental sealant and ensure quality. You can chew on the tooth again after the dental sealant has hardened and it is a hard plastic coating.
Pediatric Dental Services
At Smile Reef, we exclusively specialize in pediatric dentistry and provide a number of services including dental sealants in an effort to better preserve their teeth now. Call Smile Reef today to schedule your sealant service.
