Protect Your Child’s Teeth with Dental Sealants

Your teeth, especially the molars, have deep grooves and fissures that are very distinct. These indentations are unique to every molar, premolar, and posterior tooth. While some are deeper than others, some teeth have shallow and insignificant depths in them. Unfortunately, these spaces can create a perfect dwelling place for disease-causing mouth bacteria to grow and multiply. The crevices and pits trap debris and food particles, allowing microorganisms to thrive in your mouth. Once these bacteria are teeming in your oral cavity, your teeth become at risk of dental caries and decay.


Do you want to give your child’s dental health an extra layer of protection early on? Read on to find out how dental sealants can help preserve their teeth.

 

What Are Dental Sealants?

Your teeth are incredibly strong. They’re naturally equipped with enamel, which is the hardest tissue in your body. This tough protective shell helps provide you with a lifetime of service. However, poor dental hygiene, hereditary factors, and a sugary diet can lead to tooth decay and even tooth loss.

 

A dental sealant provides an additional layer of protection for your teeth. It’s a thin, transparent coating that the oral health care professional will paint on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, usually the molars and premolars. It’s essentially designed to prevent sugar, food particles, and other debris from coming into direct contact with your teeth.

 

How Does It Work?

Your dentist will apply the sealant as a liquid agent, usually clear, white, or slightly tinted in color. It fills into the pits and crevices on your teeth, quickly hardens, then seals your teeth.

 

Depending on the material used as a sealant, your child’s bite may feel slightly different after application. You don’t have to worry as this is normal. Your child’s bite should adjust within a few days. There are no special precautions after sealant placement. Your kid can eat, drink, and go about their day as usual immediately following the procedure.

 

Unlike dental fillings, sealants don’t last a lifetime. But you can expect them to last anywhere between five and 10 years, especially with proper oral care. Sealants can wear out, crack, or chip over the years. Experts highly recommend that you visit them for regular touch-ups.

 

What to Expect During Sealant Placement Process?

The dentist will begin by cleaning your child’s teeth with a polishing brush and gritty toothpaste. Then, they will isolate the teeth from the saliva by using a cotton roll or some sort of small shield. Once done, the dentist will apply an etching solution to the surface of each tooth. This way, they can prepare and disinfect the teeth to be sealed. The dentist will rinse the teeth and dry them once more. They will then apply a thin bonding layer to the tooth’s surface to cover the enamel. Then, they will paint the dental sealant over the tooth’s grooves and fissures. Lastly, the dentist will cure the dental sealant using a light-emitting diode (LED) blue light.

 

Preventative dental care is one of the most effective ways to ensure that your child keeps their happy and healthy smile.

 

Learn more about dental sealants for your child’s teeth, contact Colwick Pediatric Dentistry in Cleburne, TX at (817) 382-3029 to book an appointment.