Dental Sealant
Mesa, AZ
Our team at Timothy H. Kindt, DDS can apply dental sealants to prevent tooth decay on the biting surfaces of back molar teeth. In recent years, the push for dental sealants has increased with rapid movement, primarily because the science works. We can protect your child’s teeth during their vulnerable years.
Dental sealants are a liquid plastic coating that then dries hard. They are painless to place and easy to maintain. The plastic coating serves as a barrier between the tooth and bacteria which has been found to be effective in preventing the development of decay and significantly reducing the need for fillings, root canals, dental crowns and extraction.
Children and Cavities
At times, parents have expressed that the development of caries or cavities is a natural part of childhood, but it doesn’t have to be. When a child or adolescent develops tooth decay, we can remove it and fill the damage, but the damage still occurred, the tooth was still weakened. If we can prevent the decay, we can help the tooth stay intact and stronger longer. Studies tell us that sealants prevent about 80% of cavities from developing in the back teeth, where on average, 9 out of 10 cavities from decay causing bacteria occur.
Cavities develop in the back teeth most often for a few of reasons including:
| • |
Molars Naturally Have Pits and Grooves: The shape of our molars is for chewing and breaking down food. This includes an uneven surface of pits and grooves to break up and chew food. Debris from food particles can easily become lodged or settle in areas that allow the debris to be hidden.
|
| • |
Kids Are Still Learning Oral Hygiene: Kids are still learning how to hold a toothbrush, where to brush and for how long to brush. They will make many mistakes including brushing insufficiently, brushing infrequently and missing areas that need it.
|
| • |
Distant Positioning: Molars are back teeth. Kids are frequently great at brushing their front teeth, but often miss the teeth in the back. They may find the toothbrush uncomfortable, they may be fearful to brush far back, or they may just be less diligent than needed. |
Placing Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are placed following a dental cleaning and exam. They can be applied to any person, in any age group, though we regularly recommend sealants for our child and adolescent age patients.
Sealants are painted with a small brush directly onto the tooth where they seal the natural grooves to help prevent tooth decay. This means that no anesthetic or sedation is needed, placement is needle and drill free. While sealants are durable, they are not permanent, with time, they will begin to wear away. We will check the status of the patient’s sealants during their dental cleaning and exam. During this standard visit, we can replace or touch up as needed. On average, dental sealants last about 5 years of normal wear before needing replacement.
Sealants are a cost-effective, preventative treatment that does not interfere with your child’s routine or diet in any way. However, they do not replace the need for regular brushing and flossing, it is our hope that you child continues to follow and enhance their oral hygiene routine as they grow so they can continue to have good oral health into adulthood.
|
