How do dental sealants improve kids’ oral health?

Dental cavities in children are really a worrying thing. Here comes the role of preventative dentistry to safeguard your child’s oral health. Preventative dentistry helps to avoid expensive dental treatments by keeping dental problems away before they even emerge.

One of the most effective and easiest ways to protect your kids from cavities are dental sealants. Dental sealants are recommended for children to maintain their teeth healthy and strongly as soon as their 1st permanent molar comes in.

What are dental cavities?

Before knowing about dental sealants, let us see about dental cavities. Dental cavities are essentially holes in the teeth. If not treated properly, these cavities get bigger and create pain along with tooth infection. They may even result in tooth loss.

The bacteria present in our teeth feeds on the starches and sugars we consume and produces acids. These acids, bacteria, spit, and food debris combine together and create plaque, a viscous film on the teeth. If these plaques are not removed with flossing and brushing, the plaque acids will wear away tooth enamel causing cavities. The premolars and molars contain grooves making it hard to remove plaque and food by brushing, that is why they are more vulnerable to cavities.

What are dental sealants?

Dental sealants are a thin layer coated on to the chewing area of the premolars and molars. Once they are coated on the teeth, it acts as a protective shield against bacteria, plaque, acids and food debris that we have talked about. Those bad stuffs now no longer deposits in the grooves and pits of your kids teeth, dental sealants help eliminate cavities.

Dental sealants application process

This application process is not difficult. Your children don’t feel any pain or discomfort. It takes only a few minutes to finish. At first, your kids tooth will be cleaned and a washing solution is applied over the teeth surface by the dentist. Then the coating is done directly into those grooves. The process takes a few minutes to dry, after that your child can drink and eat normally.

How effective are dental sealants?

Dental sealants are protective and extremely effective. Tooth decay is the most common never-ending problem in kids ages 6 to 11 and teens ages 12 to 19. Hence, dental sealants play a vital role in your kids’ preventative oral care. Combining this method with fluoride treatments, dental cleanings, and regular dental checkups can greatly reduce the risk of tooth decay in your child. While a cavity may be treated using fillings, it costs higher than the dental sealants. Also, a tooth without a cavity is very strong and healthier.

If you are looking for a preventative dental care for your child, contact us now and safeguard your child’s oral health from cavities.