It’s normal for kids to develop an incredible liking for sweets. Some would even prefer drinking juice to water and wouldn’t think twice when offered chocolates. Thus, making them susceptible to cavity buildup. Certainly, brushing their teeth helps fight off the bacteria that cause cavities. However, what if it’s too late? Fortunately, one way to help protect them from cavities is to undergo dental sealant treatment.
Dentists near you apply sealants to act as a protective shield on a patient’s teeth. They seal the teeth surface from any food and bacteria that may penetrate inside the tooth which leads to an infection. The dentist usually brushes on the surface of the patient’s molar effectively preventing any chances of tooth decay for several years. Having sealants doesn’t mean that your child will no longer need to brush and floss their teeth. This is only an added covering to help protect the molars from getting infected. Conversely, when should you consider your child to have this treatment?
Reasons, why your child needs dental sealants Helps, protect your child’s molars from cavities
A dental sealant procedure blocks more than half of the cavities from getting inside the back of your child’s teeth. Your child’s molars are very much prone to tooth decay, making the tooth sealants a must to protect them against corrosion. This procedure is an ideal solution, especially if your child has a sweet tooth.
Fewer chances of dental pain
Cavities are painful, especially for kids. They have low pain tolerance, and a toothache is the one thing you don’t want them to experience. Ensuring that your kids have dental sealants applied on their molars will ensure protection against bacterial buildup. Hence, lesser chances of tooth decay and pain.
Quick and easy
This type of dental procedure is quick, easy, and completely painless. Each tooth sealant application only takes about five minutes. Oral prophylaxis may be needed prior to the application to ensure that the teeth are free from bacteria. In an hour, your child gets the necessary protection from oral cavities.
Covered by health insurance
There are several means to pay for a dental sealants procedure without taking a penny out of your pocket. Check with your insurance provider as to their coverage for this type of dental treatment. If not, you can also go through the local community health centers and dental providers for free assistance.
Who applies dental sealants?
Trained dental health professionals are the only ones who can place sealants on a patient’s teeth. Before applying it, the dentist will adequately clean and examine the tooth. Once the tooth is dry, he will then place a specific kind of material on top of the tooth, rinse it, and then let it dry.
Soon after, he will put the sealant material on the biting surface of the tooth and uses a special curing light to solidify the sealant. The entire process is quite easy and wouldn’t cause him any pain. Your child only needs to stay still while the dentist does the procedure.
Once the dental sealants are finally set, the next challenge would be proper maintenance. You should encourage your kid to avoid chewing on ice or any hard or sticky foods. Doing so may dislodge the sealants which may cause further damage in the future. Sealants may last for up to a decade when your child observes proper oral care.
How many teeth should have dental sealant treatment?
The number of teeth that needs dental sealing depends on the child’s dental decay. To give him maximum dental protection, the dentist needs to apply the Newmarket dental sealants on the molars. However, you need to wait until your child’s permanent teeth erupt.
The dental sealants procedure is a better way to protect your child’s teeth from harmful cavities. Not only are they affordable, yet, they’re often covered by insurance, too. Make sure to discuss this treatment with your pediatric dentist on your next dental visit with your kid.