Did you know dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in the back teeth, where 9 in 10 cavities occur? (Source: Centers for Disease Control). This is likely because they’re the most difficult to reach when brushing. What are pediatric dental sealants, and are they right for your child? In this blog, we’ll dive into the most common questions regarding dental sealants for kids, including the age your child can get them, how they’re applied, and how long they last.
What Are Pediatric Dental Sealants?
The tiny grooves on teeth, also known as “pits and fissures”, are great for chewing food. However, those same qualities that help us eat our food are also the culprits of tooth decay, as food particles and bacteria tend to get stuck and eventually cause cavities if left untreated.
Here’s where dental sealants come in. Acting as a shield to protect your child’s enamel, pediatric dental sealants are a thin coating painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, or molars. This coating blocks food particles and bacteria from collecting and causing cavities.
In addition to dental sealants, our team at Pediatric Smiles offers routine preventive care, oral treatments, and emergency dental care.
When Can Kids Get Dental Sealants?
Sealants are recommended for use on permanent molars and premolars and are often applied at 6 years and 12 years when these teeth erupt. By adding sealants to your child’s teeth right away, you can protect them from cavities from the get-go. Better yet, since this is a popular preventive procedure, most insurance plans will cover it.
Can sealants be applied to baby teeth? While sealants are usually recommended for permanent teeth, there is no age restriction on them. Therefore, depending on the situation, sealants might be a good option for severely cavity-prone children. However, the child would need to be mature enough to sit still to allow the sealants to be applied. Learn more below.
How Are Dental Sealants Applied?
Not only are pediatric dental sealants effective, they’re also quick and painless to apply!
First, we’ll examine your child’s tooth, then thoroughly clean and dry it. Next, we apply a solution to roughen the tooth’s surface in order to allow better adhesion. The tooth is rinsed and dried again before we apply the actual sealant, which goes on almost like paint. It hardens in about a minute with the help of a blue curing light. That’s it!
How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?
According to the CDC, “once applied, sealants protect against 80% of cavities for two years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years.”
Your pediatric dentist will monitor your child’s sealant(s) and advise when/if reapplication is necessary.
Dental Sealants vs. Fillings
Both dental sealants and fillings are treatments that protect your teeth against decay, but what is the difference?
Dental sealants are a preventive procedure, whereas fillings are a restorative procedure. Sealants cover the natural crevasses in teeth, and fillings fill up holes that were created by cavities.
Beyond that, another difference is that sealants tend to last about four years, and fillings can last 10 years or more.
Schedule an Appointment
Do you have more questions about dental sealants for kids? Our team at Pediatric Smiles of Northland KC is here to help.
Whether you’re seeking advice on overcoming dental anxiety, want to know more about our dental services, or have questions about your first visit, we’re just a phone call away. Give us a call or schedule an appointment online today!
