Teaching your child to floss and brush their teeth twice a day is one of the best ways to prevent cavities and build good oral hygiene habits. However, as easy as it might sound, a child is likely to sneak in food in the middle of the night or fall asleep without brushing their teeth. This is where dental sealants come in. As a parent, you are responsible for ensuring that your little one has healthy teeth. Getting dental sealants is the best way to protect against cavities and keep your child’s teeth strong and healthy. Keep reading to learn more about dental sealants for children.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Made of a thin, plastic coating and painted on the chewing sides of the molars and premolars, dental sealants prevent tooth decay in children. Dental sealants protect the teeth’ enamel from acid that attacks the enamel and from cavity-causing bacteria. In simpler words, the dental sealant creates a shell that shields the tooth enamel and keeps them strong and healthy.

How Are Dental Sealants Applied?

The process of applying dental sealants to teeth is rapid and painless. To ensure that all food residue and bacteria have been eliminated from the grooves, the tooth must first be thoroughly cleansed. After that, a unique gel is carefully applied to the tooth’s surface. The tooth is dried before a thin coat of liquid dental sealant material is applied, matching the color of the teeth. The sealant is exposed to a UV light to speed up the solidification process, forming a dental sealant.

How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?

Dental sealants can provide your child’s teeth with protection for more than 10 years. However, it ultimately depends on the child’s oral health habits. The dentist will monitor the condition of the dental sealants and will suggest if they need to be replaced or not.

At What Age Should My Child Get Dental Sealants?

We advise getting dental sealants for kids between the ages of 6 and 14. Your child’s first teeth should erupt at age 6, and the second molars should start to show around 12. In order to prevent tooth decay, most dentists recommend sealing these teeth as soon as they erupt. In extreme circumstances, especially if the baby’s teeth have deep grooves or pitted areas, the dentist might even advise placing dental sealants over the baby’s teeth (milk teeth).

Why Should My Child Get Dental Sealants?

Did you know that dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in molars? In fact, according to the data collected by the CDC (Centers for Disease and Control), without dental sealants, children aged between 6 and 11 years have three times more cavities than those with dental sealants. While getting dental sealants might seem like an extra precautionary step, early protection will eliminate the need for future dental treatments like crowns and fillings.

Visit the Family Dentist in Germantown MD to Get Dental Sealants for Children

At the Advanced Dental Center, we want to ensure that you and your family get the best dental treatment in Germantown. We also offer several amenities that make your time at our dental clinic enjoyable and fun. To get dental sealants for children, book an appointment with the Germantown dentist right away or visit our website.