Dental sealants protect kids teeth from decay
Cavities start in the pits and grooves of teeth. Even regular brushing may not remove all plaque from teeth. Make sure you child gets sealants once adult teeth erupt.
The sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of teeth. They prevent bacteria and debris from getting and staying in the deep grooves of teeth. Bacteria and debris form acids that start the decay process. They are not accessible to brushing in deep groves.
Dr. Elseweifi recommends applying sealants to molars once they erupt.
Application of Dental Sealants
Applying sealants to teeth is a painless and fast procedure.
- We first clean the tooth surfaces
- We etch the enamel surface with a special chemical.
- We wash & dry the tooth
- We apply the sealant and harden it by a special light.
How Do Dental Sealants Work?
The sealant coat the tooth surface by a protective layer. This layer prevents bacteria from staying on tooth groves. The bacteria produce the acid that starts decay. Sealants release fluoride to increase enamel resistance to decay.
Who Can Get Sealants?
Sealants are applied to adult molar teeth once they erupt in children. The first adult molar tooth erupts at age 6,. Sealing teeth as soon as they erupt protects them from cavities. Sealants are useful for adult teeth at risk of tooth decay, such as teeth with deep grooves.
How long do sealants last?
Sealants can last for many years. However, we check them during routine dental care. We repair them if they start to break.
Dental sealants are important elements of child dental care.
