Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that dentists put on your teeth to protect them from risks of dental caries. Dental caries or cavities develop when after eating, food residue isn’t thoroughly cleaned. Since molar teeth have more crevices, that’s where dentists usually apply the sealants.
Unfortunately, children’s teeth are more prone to dental caries than any adult. Kids are very fond of sweets and yet they can be sluggish in their oral hygiene routine. Parents might not help it too since their mouths can be small to properly clean every nook and cranny. That’s why having a dental sealant procedure could greatly help you prevent your kid’s teeth from being damaged.
Dental sealants procedure
In some cases, dentists recommend tooth sealants for babies whose primary teeth have erupted. Especially if that tooth has deep grooves, it’s best to coat it to prevent the progression of tooth decay. Although primary teeth fall off after a few years, your child shouldn’t lose them before the permanent one comes out. The missing tooth will create a gap that will likely lead to teeth misalignment. To avoid that from happening, investing in dental sealants in Newmarket is a good idea.
Before doing the procedure, the dentist will examine your kid’s teeth and check for signs of plaque. He needs to remove them, in case he finds some, prior to applying the coat. Oral prophylaxis may be necessary during this stage. After this, the dentist follows this dental sealants procedure:
- The dentist near you dries each tooth and uses cotton for this procedure. He will also place an absorbent material around the teeth to keep them dry throughout the treatment process.
- After making sure that the teeth are dry, he applies the acid solution to the chewing surface of the involving teeth. The purpose of the acid is to roughen the teeth and help the dental sealants to bond properly.
- He then rinses the teeth with water and uses suction to clear them away. He uses cotton again to dry the bites.
- This time, he paints the sealant on the teeth surfaces. He makes sure that every pit and fissure has been filled. He uses a tiny brush to scatter the coating and cover deep crevices.
- The final dental sealant procedure is to use a special curing light on the coating to permanently harden it.
This simple process can protect your child’s permanent teeth for more than 10 years. However, this doesn’t mean that your kid could already practice poor oral hygiene. It’s still best to not miss a day of teeth brushing and flossing. Most importantly, your kid should regularly see his Newmarket dentist to maintain optimal dental health.