Are Dental Sealants for Kids the Right Choice for Your Child?

Dental sealants for kids are clear, thin coatings that your dentist will brush over the chewing surfaces of your child's teeth, with particular attention to areas on the premolars and molars that have pits or grooves.

  These small grooves can be hard to brush and are prime places for cavities to form. Sealants don't eliminate the need to brush and floss every day. However, they can protect against the bacteria that can cause cavities.
In addition to preventing cavities, the benefits of dental sealants include:

•  Ease of Application: It's a simple procedure for your dentist to paint on sealants and won't require oral anesthesia or pain medication.
• Long-lasting Results: Your dentist will check your child's sealants during regular dental checkups, but it's common for sealants to last five to 10 years. If there's a spot where the sealant is wearing more quickly, more can be applied.
• Overall Savings: They are much less expensive than drilling out cavities and adding a tooth filling. Plus, any type of dental insurance often covers sealants.
• Anyone can use Sealants: They can be used on children of any age as soon as teeth begin to erupt, but they can be used on people of any age with grooved teeth that are susceptible to cavities.

Are Dental Sealants Safe for Kids?

Dental sealants have been in use since the 1960s and are considered safe for use in children, teens and adults. Sealants are made from a safe resin that usually contains a small amount of fluoride to further add protection for teeth. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved them.

A chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) can be present in dental sealants, which may cause some parents to be concerned.   The American Dental Association  explains that when used by a trained dentist using specific application techniques, sealants only cause a small, temporary increase in BPA exposure.

That's because the resin cures and the surface of the sealant is rinsed to reduce any leaching of BPA after application. The amount of BPA ingested from personal health products and canned or packaged food products greatly outweighs the amount in dental sealants.

Otherwise, an allergic reaction is the only concern surrounding dental sealants. These are very rare and dentists check and evaluate any issues.

If you have any questions about the safety of ingredients used in dental sealants, please ask us. Find the Sweet Tooth location that's closest to you and contact us to learn more.

Sealants are helpful for nearly all kids. Studies show that elementary-aged children from 6 to 11 without dental sealants get nearly three times as many first molar cavities than kids with sealants and can prevent up to 80% of cavities in molars.

If your child has higher levels of tooth decay or teeth that are especially grooved or pitted, dental sealants can be an important tool in reducing cavities. Your dentist can assess your child's teeth to determine if sealants are a good choice.

To enhance the effectiveness of dental sealants in kids, it's important to encourage good oral hygiene. This should include:

• Brushing twice a day with a fluoride-based toothpaste
• Flossing daily
• Eating a healthy diet with minimal sugary foods
• Getting regular dental checkups

Regular checkups also give your dentist an opportunity to identify any spots where the sealant has worn down and re-apply for maximum protection.

Dental sealants are an inexpensive way to protect your child's teeth and prevent painful cavities. The dentists at Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry can assess and help you decide if sealants are the right choice for your kids.

Schedule an appointment today for a to see if sealants are right for your child!