It can be difficult to navigate all the things that a child needs these days. There are groups that are created just to try and help with all the work that a new mother has to handle. You want to make smart choices for your bundle of joy from the way that you sleep straight through to the foods that you start to introduce. Through a child’s life there are obstacles you have to take on that might be easy to understand and others that are not so easy. When it comes to the oral health of your child most moms know to have the child brush, floss and how to act as the tooth fairy. What you may not know is that there are other things you can be doing to protect your child from dental disorders and problems. You want to make sure that you know what options are available to you and why it is a good idea to take advantage of them. One of the things you should know about are called dental sealants. Smile Reef outlines why this preventive treatment is so important for kids.
What is a Tooth Sealant?
If you are not sure what a dental sealant is and if it is right for your child it is great to learn all about the procedure. The great thing is this is a procedure that is pain free and will cause no discomfort or recovery time for your child. These are the best kinds of procedures to have to make your child continue to feel comfortable when they go to the dentist. The sealant happens after the regular appointment for a good cleaning. When the teeth are cleaned they are dried off and prepared for the sealant to be applied. The tooth will receive a conditioning treatment that will act as a barrier to that particular tooth. The sealant is a liquid that will be placed over the tooth and allowed to get in all the grooves of the tooth. Then the sealant will dry and you are ready to go about your day just as normal.
Purpose of Dental Sealants
You might be wondering what a sealant is even good for if the procedure is that simple. The great thing is that the sealant is often applied to the back teeth of a child during the time that most kids develop cavities. The sealant acts as a barrier that will not allow food debris and other bacteria to penetrate the tooth that has been treated. The sealants are good to stop decay that might result in your child developing a cavity that needs to be filled. If the teeth and the sealant are cared for and inspected at each appointment they can last as many years as they are needed.
When Should Dental Sealant Material Be Applied?
You want to make sure you talk to your pediatric dentist about when your child is ready to have sealants applied. This is something that can differ from child to child because each one’s teeth grow in at different rates. Be sure to keep up with your child’s routine visits to ensure the sealants are applied as soon as possible.
Pediatric Dental Sealants & More
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