If your children's dentist has some concerns about the health of your child's teeth, they may recommend a dental sealant. Whilst you may know that sealants are a tool that can help your child maintain better oral health, you may not know much more about sealants in general. Here's what you need to know about sealants -- and whether your child might need them in the future.
What Are Dental Sealants?
A dental sealant is a liquified coating that your child's dentist applies to the surface of their teeth. Sealants are made from a type of plastic, one which is safe for use in the body. A dental sealant shields the tooth surface to make it impossible for bacteria to penetrate the tooth enamel.
Sealants are usually painted directly on the chewing surface (the top of the tooth) and on any grooves on the tooth as well. Oten, dental sealants are used only on the most vulnerable parts of the tooth rather than on the entire tooth. It takes only one short visit to the pediatric dentist to have a dental sealant applied. Sealants are pain-free, and don't require any special preparation or recovery.
Is Your Child a Candidate For Dental Sealants?
Whilst your pediatric dentist is the person who can best determine your child's candidacy for dental sealants, there are a few ways that you can determine whether your child might need them in the future. If you can answer "yes" to any of the following questions, your children's dentistry provider might recommend sealants.
Does your child have tooth decay? If your child has tooth decay, especially if it's fairly significant, they may be a good candidate for a dental sealant. Whilst the sealant won't correct existing decay, it can prevent the problem from worsening.
Is your child a poor brusher? Many children, especially toddlers and even older kids, may have poor brushing habits. Although these poor brushing habits do need to be corrected, a dental sealant can prevent tooth decay whilst your child learns how to brush correctly.
Is your child unable to reach their molars while brushing? Even kids who have excellent and very thorough brushing habits may not be able to reach their molars properly whilst brushing. Since molars are so far back in the mouth, it might take several years before toddlers gain the control that they need to brush their molars well. A dental sealant can be the ideal solution by protecting the molars even when they're not brushed quite as well as they should be.
Dental sealants can be an excellent solution for patients of any age, but they're particularly useful for children. If your child may need a dental sealant, contact your local children's dentist to learn more today.
