child dental sealants

What Are Dental Sealants?

date: 03.29.2024

Author:

Dr. Elizabeth "Andie" Shin, DDS - BCC Pediatric Dentistry

Elizabeth Shin, D.D.S

Elizabeth "Andie" Shin, D.D.S. is a board-certified, award-winning pediatric dentist and the Founder and President of BCC Pediatric Dentistry. Most of all she loves helping children achieve lifelong oral health.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Good oral health and hygiene such as brushing and flossing are the best ways to prevent cavities in your child’s teeth, but it’s not always simple for your child to properly address every uneven hard-to-reach crevice of their teeth, especially the molars in the back of their mouth. That’s where dental sealants can help.

Dental sealants are a type of coating that helps to protect teeth from cavities. They are most often used on the molars, which are the back teeth, as these are the teeth that are most likely to get cavities. Sealants work by filling in the crevices and grooves on the chewing surfaces of teeth, making them more difficult for bacteria to accumulate and cause cavities. The process of getting them is simple. Your dentist will first clean your child’s teeth and then apply the material to the chewing surfaces of the teeth. The sealant will then be cured, or hardened, with a special light. Teeth sealants are typically long-lasting and can last for several years before they need to be replaced. If you’re looking for a way to help protect your child’s teeth from cavities, dental sealants may be a good option. Talk to your dentists at BCC Pediatric Dentistry about whether they may be right for your child.

Are Dental Sealants Effective?

Dental sealants are a great way to protect children’s teeth from getting cavities! Sealants are a simple, quick, and painless way to reduce the majority of the cavities that children develop in the permanent back teeth where 90% of all cavities occur. Sealants are effective in preventing 80% of cavities for two years after application and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years. A great benefit of using pediatric dental sealants is that they can eliminate the need for expensive and invasive treatments like dental fillings or crowns!

Dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in the back teeth, where 9 in 10 cavities occur.cdc.gov

Are Dental Sealants Safe for Children?

Yes, dental sealants are safe for children. Some people worry about exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), however, these levels are extremely low. According to the American Dental Association, breathing air exposes people to 100 times more BPA than dental sealants and there is no health concern relative to BPA exposure from any dental material.

Although dental materials used to treat and prevent caries, including dental sealants, can contribute to very low level bisphenol A (BPA) exposure for a few hours after placement, based on current evidence, there is no health concern relative to BPA exposure from any dental material.American Dental Association (ADA)

Who Benefits Most from Dental Sealants?

Sealants are a great way to protect your teeth against cavities and other problems. Children, as well as adults, can benefit from sealants. The first molars erupt between the ages of 6 and 12, while the second teeth erupt later at around age 12. Early application of sealants may help prevent early tooth decay by sealing these teeth immediately after they emerge, which can save time and money in the long run. Ask your favorite Bethesda, Maryland pediatric dentist at BCC Pediatric Dentistry if sealants are a suitable choice for your child.

Now You Know About Dental Sealants.

Dental sealants are a great way to protect children’s teeth from getting cavities! Sealants are a simple, quick, and painless way to reduce the majority of the cavities that children develop in permanent back teeth. Sealants are effective in preventing 80% of cavities for two years after application and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years. A great benefit of using pediatric dental sealants is that they can eliminate the need for expensive and invasive treatments like dental fillings or crowns!

Want To Protect Your Child's Teeth From Cavities?

Ask your favorite dentist at BCC Pediatric Dentistry if sealants are a suitable choice for your child.

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