Types of Dental Sealants for Kids
What Are Dental Sealants?
They are thin coatings that dentists place on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
Sealants help prevent bacteria, food particles, and acid from getting into contact with the tooth surfaces. It is a thin plastic coating that creates a protective shield on the teeth grooves, and it’s a painless, effective, and safe way to prevent cavities.
Dental sealants are usually placed on permanent teeth that don’t have cavities. The dentist may apply sealants on baby teeth in some situations, but that is less common.
Teeth sealants are applied on tooth surfaces that are more susceptible to decay. These surfaces are the molar biting surfaces, and they have many small grooves which can facilitate bacteria accumulation and lead to destruction. Kids dental sealants in Lancaster are the best option to provide additional protection to kids’ teeth before they can learn daily oral hygiene routines.
Let’s look at how dental sealants can be beneficial to kids.
Benefits of Dental Sealants for kids
- They prevent cavities
Teeth sealants protect children’s teeth from cavities by sealing the teeth top with colored plastic. This layer of protection makes it challenging for bacteria to remain on the tooth’s surface. As a result, bacteria can’t attack the protected tooth enamel making dental sealant an effective and safe way to protect a child’s tooth.
- It’s a good option for all children
Despite how well a child participates in oral hygiene care, they aren’t immune to tooth cavities. This is because the tooth grooves provide the perfect environment for bacteria to stick around and attack the tooth. In addition, it’s difficult for a toothbrush to access the deep grooves; therefore, bacteria accumulate, causing cavities, despite your child brushing twice a day.
- They are long-lasting
Getting sealants during childhood protects the teeth through the most cavity-prone years because, with proper care, sealants can last for several years. Maintaining good oral hygiene and refraining from biting hard items helps sealants last longer.
During routine dental checkups, our kids dentist in Lancaster checks the sealants to see if they need any repairs or reapplication.
- Saves you money
Apart from being a painless and fast solution, this procedure is also cost-effective compared to other dental restorations. Sealants are on the list of treatments that most dental insurance companies cover under general policies.
At Kids First Dental Lancaster, we aim to ensure all our patients receive treatment by accepting any form of insurance.
- They can be applied early
The best time to get dental sealants for maximum protection from dental cavities is right after the permanent teeth erupt. Children aged six years will benefit more from sealants just around the time their first molars start to set in.
When you feel like it’s time for your child to get sealants, contact our kids dentist at 29720 to schedule an appointment.
- Avoids plaque buildup
When food particles attach themselves to teeth removing them with regular home care can be difficult. Missed particles can lead to plaque buildup between and on the teeth surfaces.
Biofilm is a colorless sticky film that forms in the mouth. Mouthwashes with antibacterial properties go well with sealant material. Therefore, they can be used to remove any remaining particles that continue to build up plaque.
Sealants do a great job in safeguarding your child’s teeth, so bring your kid to our pediatric dental office in Lancaster to get dental sealants.
Types of Dental Sealants
The common types of teeth sealants are composite resin and glass ionomer sealants.
Glass ionomer sealants
Glass ionomer cement comprises a mixture of polymeric acid, water, and glass powder. The material releases fluoride, which helps in strengthening the tooth enamel. That may offer further cavity protection.
Composite resin
Plastic materials and ceramics are used in the making of composite resin sealants. They can be tooth-colored or white to appear just like the molars. Some are clear, which allows your kid’s dentist at 29720 to monitor the tooth’s surface.
Composite resin teeth sealants are water-repelling. That means that moisture can’t stay on the sealants, thus keeping away any bacterial contamination you can get due to stagnant water. These coatings are good for permanent and primary teeth.
To learn more about teeth sealants, you can visit any kids dentist near you.