Why Are Dental Sealants Important for Your Child?

Tooth decay is an increasingly rising concern among millions of children globally. Poor dental hygiene, regular snacking, and dental trauma are key factors to blame for tooth decay among children. If left untreated, tooth decay or cavities often worsen with time, leading to serious issues like loose teeth, tooth loss, gum infection, and jawbone disorders.

Fortunately, your child’s pediatric dentists can help protect your child’s oral health for years to come. Along with good at-home dental hygiene, pediatric dentists recommend applying dental sealants on your child’s teeth as soon as they develop.

What are Dental Sealants?

A sealant is a thin protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars. It prevents plaque and tartar accumulation in the mouth, potentially protecting your child against tooth decay and other infections. Dental sealants can protect your child’s dental health with proper care and habits for 5 – 10 years.

Why are Dental Sealants Important for your Child?

Even if your child brushes and flosses thoroughly and regularly, there’s still a chance that they could leave plaque and bacteria in the hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. The back teeth, molars, and premolars are specifically vulnerable to tooth decay. The tiny grooves and fissures at the chewing surfaces of these teeth are hard to clean thoroughly.

The food particles and debris that get trapped on these surfaces combine with the harmful bacteria found in the mouth, forming plaque. If you don’t eliminate the plaque, it hardens to tartar – a brown deposit that firmly forms on the teeth. Once plaque has turned to tartar, you can’t eliminate it with regular brushing and flossing. Over time, these deposits attack the teeth and irritate the gum tissues, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.

Applying dental sealants on your child’s molars and premolars prevents these things from happening. The sealants seal the tiny grooves and fissures at the chewing surfaces of these teeth, making it harder for debris to get trapped. If debris gets trapped, it’s easy to clean off, thanks to the smooth surfaces.

How Dental Sealants are applied

Applying dental sealants is easy, quick, and painless. The dentist begins by cleaning the teeth that are to be sealed. An absorbent material is placed around the tooth to keep the teeth dry. Next, the teeth are cleaned and dried. The dentist applies the sealant material onto the chewing surface of the tooth. A special curing light hardens the sealant. Contact our dentist in Concord, NH, for more information on sealants.

Benefits of Dental Sealants to Children

Dental sealants have several benefits to protect your child against tooth decay. These include:

• Sealants protect your child’s future dental health

The primary goal of using dental sealants is to protect your child’s teeth against tooth decay and cavities. Teeth decay is a key risk factor for tooth loss. Therefore, applying dental sealants is a great way to ensure excellent dental health for your child.

• Sealants are non-invasive

Your child’s teeth are minimally invasive. You can expect your child to go through the application procedure with ease. Your teeth structure is maintained.

• Sealants are reversible

Most parents are often curious whether dental sealants are reversible. The good news is yes. Since the application procedure doesn’t require modifying the natural tooth’s structure, you can have them removed if you change your mind.

• Virtually invisible

The sealant material is often clear or white so that it won’t affect your child’s aesthetics. Once applied to your child’s teeth, they can’t be noticed when eating, speaking, or laughing.

• Durable

Apply dental sealants to your child’s teeth to protect them against decay. With good care, dental sealants last for 5 – 10 years. It’s essential to have sealants checked for wear and damage regularly. The dentist will recommend re-application whenever necessary.

• Quick and painless

Since there are no drilling, cutting, or injections, applying sealants is quick and painless. It only takes a few minutes to seal each tooth.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Ready to protect your child’s dental health with dental sealants? Contact Concord Dental Associates to schedule an appointment with our general dentist in Concord.