Dental Sealants: What They Are and How They Protect Back Teeth
Sealants come up often enough in conversation about children's teeth that a parent can be forgiven for not being sure what the word actually means. This article sticks to three things: what a sealant is, who can benefit from one, and what is involved in placing one.
What a sealant is
A sealant is a thin, protective coating that adheres to the chewing surface of the back teeth. Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars, and they are no substitute for brushing and flossing (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
Who sealants are for
Children and adults can benefit from sealants, but the earlier you get them, the better. First molars appear around age 6, and second molars break through around age 12 (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
How a sealant is placed
The steps generally go like this: the dentist cleans and dries the tooth, then places an acidic gel on it. The gel roughs up the tooth surface so a strong bond will form between the tooth and the sealant. The dentist then rinses off the gel, dries the tooth again, and applies the sealant onto the grooves of the tooth (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
If you want to ask about sealants
That is a general description. What any particular dental office does, and what it would suggest for your own child, is a question for that office rather than for an article.
Two other pieces here cover neighbouring ground: one on dental habits for kids by age, and one on your child's first dental visit.
Our office is at 147 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lodi, NJ 07644, and Dr. Steven Liao is our dentist. Our first-visit page is the next step.
Sources
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). "Sealants." https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/sealants
