Dental Sealants: Are They Important For Your Kid’s Teeth?
Generally, children have a hard time keeping up with their oral care. The rule of thumb is to brush our teeth twice a day for 2 minutes, floss regularly, and limit the intake of sweets and sugary stuff. However, parents usually can’t rely on their kids to do this themselves until they are in their pre-teens and old enough to understand the importance of oral care. This is why children are prone to dental cavities. Most parents are opting to reach out to our team to have dental sealants placed on their kids’ teeth in order to protect their teeth from cavities.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are thin protective coatings that are applied on the surface of children’s new permanent molar teeth. This is due to the fact that molars(chewing teeth) are more prone to get cavities faster than the other teeth. Dental sealants are usually applied in the form of liquid plastic. The liquid then covers and fills all the grooves and pits of the tooth. After the substance dries, it bonds and blends with the teeth.
1) Early Teeth Protection
If properly taken care of, tooth sealants can last for as long as 10 years. In order to ensure that your kids have a full set of functional teeth as they enter adulthood, you need to make sure that their teeth are protected early enough. Preventative care through dental sealants is one of the most effective ways of achieving this. It is, however, important to keep in mind that the child still has to practice proper dental hygiene to start a great foundation for their oral health.
2) The Procedure Is Non-Invasive
Placing dental sealants is a very easy and painless procedure that doesn’t require any drilling. The procedure doesn’t cause any discomfort and your child might not realize any difference between the sealant placement and teeth cleaning. The procedure involves:
- Cleaning Of The Teeth
- Application Of The Sealant
- Then Curing Using Ultra-Violet Light
This procedure is simple, fast and painless- it may even cause children who fear to visit the dentist’s office to have a change of heart.
3) Cost-saving
Dental sealant procedures are covered by most health insurance policies which means that the amount you pay will be significantly less. In addition, treating dental cavities is far more expensive, especially if you have no insurance. Research has shown 40% of schoolchildren and the vast majority of adults have tooth cavities. The long-term treatment of cavities can quickly add up. Since dental sealants protect your kids’ teeth against cavities, then this considering this procedure for your kids early enough helps saves you significant costs in the future.
4) Promotes Good Health
Tooth cavities often lead to more serious oral health problems such as gingivitis and advanced periodontitis. Dental sealants for your kids is one of the most effective ways to protect your kids from these diseases. Even after treatments such as cavity fillings, the health of your teeth might still be compromised so the preventative care that sealants offer are going to be well worth it in the long run for your child’s future oral care!
