Children are our top priority at Northshore Kids Dental, and we are passionate about assisting them in achieving and maintaining a healthy and happy smile. Children have a higher risk of developing tooth decay than adults do.
Baby teeth are more sensitive and have less enamel than adult teeth. When bacteria convert sugars into acids, tooth decay happens because the acids damage the children’s tooth structures just like they do in adults. Because of this, it’s essential to watch out for your child’s consumption of sugary foods and drinks and to encourage regular tooth brushing.
Baby teeth eventually fall out, but it’s still crucial to maintain their health until then. In addition to being essential for chewing and speaking, baby teeth also act as temporary replacements for adult teeth. If baby teeth are lost too soon due to decay, adult teeth may not grow properly.
You as a parent might be wondering how to keep your child’s mouth free of cavities. The truth is that every child is susceptible to tooth decay, whether it is genetic or brought on by an excessive intake of sweets. Not that a child getting a cavity is a cause for concern, but rather that the cavity is not treated by a pediatric dentist.
What are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are a clear plastic coating that is put on the teeth’s pitted and grooved surfaces. The chewing surfaces of the rear teeth, which can be tougher for kids to brush effectively, are where sealants are most frequently used.
It’s very impossible to completely wipe out all of the grooves and pits of the teeth, even for those who are meticulous about their dental hygiene. And for kids who might not always take the necessary amount of time to wash their teeth, the accumulation of food and germs can then cause decay and cavities.
Your child’s teeth are safeguarded against plaque and decay thanks to dental sealants, which offer a layer of defence for many years if properly maintained.
Applying sealants before the years when cavities are more likely is crucial. The sealant may be quickly applied in only one visit to the dentist. Your kids won’t experience any discomfort while it’s happening.
Actually, dental sealants are not just for kids; anyone can receive this procedure to prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants alone cannot completely prevent cavities, but they can reduce the likelihood of food particles building up in the grooves of your teeth.
You should continue to pay attention to your child’s daily brushing and flossing routines. Preventing dental health issues from occurring in the first place is the best course of action. With procedures like fluoride and dental sealants that strengthen teeth, we will be happy to assist your kids. But we must never undervalue the significance of good oral hygiene practices.
Types of Dental Sealants
Technically speaking, sealants are made up of resins, fillers, and chemicals. Glass ionomers and composite resin fillings are the two forms of dental sealants applied most frequently in preventive dentistry. Each material has differences that pediatric dentists have to evaluate before deciding on one treatment or another.
Some materials might be more abrasion-resistant, while others might flow into your child’s teeth’s fissures and pits more easily. Nevertheless, you should be aware that they are completely safe regardless of the course of therapy you select.
Some people are concerned that the sealant ingredients may be absorbed by the child’s body and cause harm, however, there are reliable studies that refute these claims.
Glass Ionomer
We can utilize a more malleable paste as a therapy alternative for infants’ teeth. Instead of using light to heal this substance, we must combine two ingredients to produce an acid-base reaction over the teeth.
The teeth are glued with this flexible paste. It steadily releases fluoride strengthening the tooth’s enamel for a long time. The durability of glass ionomer sealants is inferior to that of resin. Nevertheless, they offer much greater treatment-related benefits for dental caries prevention.
Many individuals favour glass ionomer materials as a practical and aesthetically pleasing therapy because they blend in so well with a patient’s natural tooth colour.
Composite Resin
These dental sealants don’t gradually release fluoride, therefore they don’t assist your child’s tooth enamel in any new ways. To blend in with the child’s mouth more naturally, they can be tooth-coloured.
With the use of dental curing light, we attach the resin to your teeth. It takes little time to dry the sealants with light. Keep in mind that wetness can damage them. However, you can leave that to experts like us!
Compared to its glass ionomer counterpart, this treatment option is more resilient. To ensure everything is going smoothly with the treatment, you should still periodically take your child to the pediatric dentist.
When should dental sealants be given to children?
We advise parents to ask about dental sealants when their child’s first permanent molars grow because a pediatric dentist’s specialty is treating younger patients.
Additionally, your child can benefit from dental sealants for their baby teeth, which is a wonderful addition to their dental hygiene routine. However, we would stress the need of guarding against tooth decay in permanent teeth, such as a child’s first and second molars.
Marking your calendars for the times when your child’s molar teeth typically arise between the ages of 6 and 12 may help you prepare to ensure their dental health. Teenagers are also wonderful candidates for this procedure, but the earlier you obtain dental sealants for your youngster, the better the benefits will be.
When your children get dental sealants, it’s crucial to keep up with regular cleanings and exams to make sure they’re still offering the best protection. We can remove the remaining sealant and, if necessary, apply a fresh coat of sealant to the entire chewing surface if some areas of the sealants have worn away over time.
Remembering that sealants don’t stay forever is really important. The product intended to help safeguard your children’s teeth from decay might turn into a sanctuary for them if they aren’t monitored and renewed on a regular basis.
