Benefits of Sealants
Are your kids fond of snacks, juices and shakes? Did you know that frequent exposure to starchy and sugary foods make kids prone to early cavity formations and tooth decay? Sealants applied to their teeth give needed protection. School-age children who do not have sealants applied to their teeth have three times more cavities than children with sealants? That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which said in 2016 that only 43% of children 6 to 11 years of age have sealants.
Brushing and flossing are still the best ways to prevent cavities, but often their benefits do not reach the back teeth as often and as properly as they should. Your child’s molars and premolars are not always easy to clean. These teeth’s uneven top surfaces provide attractive places for food debris to lodge and get colonized by bacteria. You might even be applying fluoridated toothpaste and have your child drink fluoridated water; both ways give added protection. But are they accomplished regularly and faithfully?
A convenient and consistent safety net can be provided by sealants. They are painted as liquid on the surfaces of molars. the thin and translucent coating made from plastic sticks to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and then quickly hardens via light curing. In effect, you have provided a physical barrier against food debris and bacterial attack.
Sealants are long-lasting and save time and money in the long run by avoiding fillings, crowns, or caps used to fix decayed teeth. Children from ages 6 to 12 and adults can benefit from sealants. Both primary and permanent molars benefit. Adult teeth can have sealants too, provided their back teeth are still carries-free and without fillings
Are sealants safe for children? Yes, of course. Unless your child has an allergic reaction to it, sealants have no known other ill-effects.
Starting Early with Sealants in Issaquah
Where dental health is concerned, it is better to start early. Have your child’s teeth protected from tooth decay by way of sealants. It’s safe, painless and affordable, a preventive measure in oral care by your Issaquah dentist.
