Often dental sealants are recommended, even for kids with baby teeth. Many parents feel like kids do not need sealants until their adult teeth come in. Some parents will ask why dental sealants, even for baby teeth is important. To better understand why sealant for both baby and adult teeth is so beneficial, Smile Reef would like to share more about dental sealant and why your children will benefit from having dental sealants applied.
What is a Dental Sealant Procedure?
A dental sealant is a thin coating that is painted on the molars. The sealant is white or a clear liquid resin that is applied to the molar using a small brush. The liquid sealant then bonds to the tooth as the sealant dries, often with an LED light. This thin layer will help protect the molars from tooth decay and cavities. The molars are the primary chewing teeth which is much more prone to cavities than the other teeth. The grooves of the molars make them even harder to clean out. Where the molars pose a bigger problem to clean and fight off tooth decay, having them sealed is highly recommended.
Is it Necessary to Seal Baby Teeth?
For those with kids, often the parents do not feel like baby teeth or molars need to be sealed since they will eventually lose their baby teeth anyway and where you will have your adult teeth for the rest of your life, they should be sealed at that time. However, kids do not lose their molars until about twelve and through the teen years. Kids are not as dedicated to their tooth care as they are growing up and dentists have seen major molar decay, even in younger children. To get your child through their younger years until they begin losing their baby molars, it is important the molars are properly cared for. Caring for molars include daily flossing, rinsing and brushing. However, this is often not enough to ensure your child prevents cavities. Therefore, a dental sealant should be applied.
Can Teeth with Sealants Get Cavities?
Dental sealants is not a major process and can be completed within minutes. While the sealant finishes curing, the child will need to avoid certain foods or hot drinks for a few hours after the sealant was applied. Additionally, dental sealant lasts for about ten years so your child can go longer periods of time between having dental sealants. As your child begins to develop their adult molars, eventually they too will need to be sealed. However, even though the teeth has been sealed, they can still develop cavities if the child isn’t caring for their teeth properly. Even with dental sealants the child should be brushing, flossing and rinsing their teeth twice a day to protect the teeth and strengthen the sealants.
Pediatric Dentistry
Dental sealants are important for both young children and even through the adult years. When scheduling your child’s dental appointment, make sure to ask about dental sealants. If your child hasn’t had their molars sealed, ask to have dental sealants applied to your children’s teeth. This simple process can help prevent cavities and tooth decay. For pediatric dental services, contact Smile Reef and schedule your child’s dentist appointment today.
