Protect Your Child’s Smile With A Simple Treatment
As a parent, you do everything possible to keep your child healthy and safe. That includes their teeth: brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits. But even the most diligent care sometimes falls short when protecting your child’s smile from tooth decay. That’s where dental sealants come in. Keep reading to learn about this simple treatment that can fend off tooth decay.
What Exactly Are Dental Sealants?
Sealants are a simple, preventive treatment that helps protect your child’s permanent molars from cavities at a time when they’re most vulnerable. And the best part? They’re fast, painless, and remarkably effective.
Sealants are thin, protective coatings made from medical-grade resin. They are carefully painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, specifically the premolars and molars, which tend to have deep grooves and pits where food and bacteria like to hide. Sealants work by sealing off those grooves, creating a smooth surface that’s easier to keep clean and less prone to decay.
When Should Children Get Sealants?
Even with great brushing habits, it can be difficult for children to clean their back molars. Over time, trapped food particles can lead to plaque buildup, enamel erosion, and cavities. To prevent this from happening, we can apply dental sealants on permanent molars as soon as they emerge, which usually happens around:
- Age 6: When the first set of permanent molars (the “6-year molars”) erupt
- Age 12: When the second set of molars (the “12-year molars”) comes in
Applying sealants during these key windows gives your child an added layer of protection during the years when cavities are most common. Even if your child is a bit older, sealants can still provide an extra layer of protection against tooth decay. We can discuss applying dental sealants at your child’s next check-up.
Safe & Effective for Your Child
Dental sealants are safe and widely recommended by the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, studies show that sealants can reduce the risk of molar cavities by up to 80% in school-aged children.
Sealants are made from BPA-free, biocompatible materials, and the application requires no drilling, numbing, or discomfort. We often apply dental sealants after a child has had their teeth cleaned. The procedure takes only minutes to complete.
The Process of Applying Dental Sealants
The application of dental sealants is one of the easiest and quickest procedures we perform at our Hazlet, NJ office. Here’s what your child can expect:
- Teeth Cleaning: We start by thoroughly cleaning the teeth that will receive the sealants.
- Drying and Preparation: The teeth are dried, and a gentle solution is applied to help the sealant bond.
- Sealant Application: The liquid sealant is carefully applied onto the grooves of the teeth.
- Curing: A special blue light hardens the material, creating a durable barrier against decay.
The entire process takes only a few minutes per tooth, with no recovery time needed.
Long-Term Benefits for Peace of Mind
Think of sealants as insurance for your child’s smile, an extra layer of defense that works 24/7 to prevent the need for fillings, drilling, or more invasive treatments down the road. Dental sealants typically last 5 to 10 years, though we check them during routine cleanings to ensure they remain intact. If needed, they can be easily reapplied.
Ready to Give Your Child a Smile That Lasts?
If your child hasn’t had sealants yet, or you’re unsure if they’re needed, now is the perfect time to schedule a visit. Contact our office located in Hazlet, NJ, to schedule an appointment, where we’ll assess their oral development and discuss the best timing for sealant application based on their unique needs.
