As part of your child’s dental prevention program, dental sealants are often recommended to protect their permanent back teeth from developing dental decay. According to the American Dental Association, dental sealants reduce the risk of cavities in molars by approximately 80%.
While establishing a good oral hygiene regimen, children’s teeth often need more protection. The main reason for this is that the deeply grooved chewing surfaces of the back permanent teeth can be difficult for a child to keep free of leftover food and cavity-causing bacteria. Young children do not always brush their teeth well enough, or as often as they should, making them particularly vulnerable to dental decay.
Dental sealants are a strong plastic-like protective coating for the chewing surfaces of a child’s permanent back teeth. They basically fill in the pits, fissures and grooves on the molars to seal out harmful bacteria and food particles. Applying dental sealants is a relatively quick and painless process. They are simply brushed on in a series of steps during a child’s dental visit and then cured (set) with a light wand. Sealants are strong and durable and can last for several years.