Dental Sealants
Many children in the U.S. get cavities. Whether it comes from too many sweets, poor oral hygiene or genetics, kids just seem to suffer from cavities and tooth decay. Left untreated, small caries can become painful or even get infected. To add an extra layer of protection over your children’s teeth, many parents are opting for dental sealants. Applied painlessly, these sealants last for years and keep your kids’ teeth healthy and their smiles bright. Call Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry — in either Woodbridge, New Jersey, Harlem, NY or on the Lower East Side of Manhattan — to get this powerful protection for your kids.
What’s a Dental Sealant?
A dental sealant is a coating used to cover the surface of primary or permanent back teeth. The uneven surfaces and grooves on molars and premolars make these chewing teeth prone to decay. Since tooth decay most often occurs in the back teeth, dental sealants for kids can prevent many dental problems. The dental procedure to apply the sealant protects a child’s teeth during the cavity-prone years from six to 14 years.
Teeth sealants ensure no food particles get stuck in the grooves of your child’s molars and premolars. The stuck food particles attract bacteria, which release acid, corroding the tooth’s enamel and causing cavities. The safe, BPA free sealants are most effective when applied at an early age.
At Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Woodbridge, New Jersey and in Manhattan, NY, the dentists use advanced dental procedures, including dental sealants.These kid-friendly, board certified dentists specialize in:
Consultation. Your family dentist explains how dental sealants work and why they’re recommended.
Dental examination. Your dentist ensures that your child is a good candidate for dental sealants.
Dental cleaning. Before applying the dental sealant, your dentist assesses the child’s dental health. A dental cleaning may be necessary to eliminate tartar or plaque that’s developed on the molars or premolars.
Preparation. After cleaning, the dentist dries the teeth to be sealed.
Sealing. The dentist carefully paints the liquid sealant onto the surface of each tooth. The sealant bonds with the enamel and hardens immediately to create a smooth protective layer. The doctor uses a special curing white light to speed up the hardening process.
The experienced dentists at Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry have helped many parents provide excellent dental care for their children. The BPA free dental sealant protects the teeth from decay and discoloration. Caring for teeth coated with the sealant is the same as before: regular brushing and flossing.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Sealants?
Millions of children and adults suffer from tooth decay despite advances in dental care treatments. Dental sealants offer many benefits, including:
The procedure doesn’t require prior preparation. Your dentist performs the procedure after a regular dental check-up.
There’s no pain during the dental sealing process. The procedure requires no anesthesia and is comfortable even for kids.
Dental sealants last for a long time with no need for extra maintenance. The dental sealant lasts for years and offers extra protection against cavities.
While dental sealants are most common used on children, the procedure is suitable for all ages.
Dental sealants provide a good value, given their proven effectiveness. At Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, the dentists specialize in dental health care. Your dentist recommends dental sealants if your child may benefit from them.
Is My Child a Candidate for Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants protect molars and premolars, the chewing teeth, from erosion, wear and bacterial attack. While getting the sealant may help everyone, dentists have ide-ntified certain categories of children as the best candidates. They include:
- Children with deep grooves on their back teeth
Deep fissures on your children’s molars and premolars make them prone to cavities. The grooves create a perfect habitat for trapping food particles that attract bacteria, which can erode the back teeth. - hildren with newly erupted back teeth.
When your children’s back teeth emerge, it’s time for their first dentist visit. At that time, you may ask your dentist for advice on the suitability of dental sealants. - Children with a history of dental decay.
Dental decay affects the overall health of your children. Teeth sealants help halt the progression of caries and prevent gum damage. - Children who won’t or can’t brush or floss.
Some children have health conditions that make it impossible to maintain perfect dental hygiene. These special needs kids are good candidates for dental sealants.
If your kids need extra protection against dental cavities, talk to your dentist about dental sealants. The preventive dental procedure may even prevent other oral problems, such as halitosis. Contact your dental sealant specialist at Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Woodbridge, NJ and in Manhattan, NY.
