It’s important that children learn the importance of proper oral care at a young age. They should know how to floss and brush correctly to prevent serious dental problems down the road. There are some things parents can do to further help their kids have healthy teeth and gums and avoid tooth decay.
The experts at Bahia Dental Group in Pittsburg, California, offer dental sealants as an additional preventive measure in protecting children from tooth decay and cavities. This highly effective treatment is gaining in popularity because of its quick and painless application.
A dental sealant is a protective coating that goes over teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) refers to them as “raincoats for your teeth.” When you eat, bacteria and food particles settle into pockets between your teeth. Flossing and brushing remove these things that create plaque buildup and cause cavities. However, sometimes the bacteria produce acids that form holes in a tooth, and these holes are called cavities.
A dental sealant acts as a defensive layer between teeth and the harmful acids. Dental sealants last for a decade or more, making this protective barrier an excellent preventive measure when it comes to your child’s oral health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities for up to two years after application. Further, sealants prevent 50% of cavities for up to four years. In fact, school-aged kids are nearly three times more susceptible to cavities when compared with those children who have dental sealants.
Dental sealants are recommended for your children after their permanent teeth have come in. In special cases, a dental sealant can be applied to baby teeth, but usually, the sealant is applied during cavity-prone years, ages 6-14. You should also consider scheduling an appointment with Bahia Dental Group as soon as their permanent teeth come in, to prevent any possible decay or cavities.
Our specialists work hard to ensure everyone from children to parents are comfortable with our treatment plans. Dental sealant procedures take almost no time, and it’s a completely painless treatment.
First, teeth are cleaned and then dried thoroughly with cotton or other material to remove any moisture. Then, the doctor applies an acid solution to the surface of your child’s teeth, which creates a rough, textured surface that allows the sealant to bond to the teeth better. After that, the teeth are rinsed and dried once more.
Finally, the dental sealant is applied to all the teeth, where it immediately bonds and hardens. Sometimes a special light is used to cure the treatment, making sure it sets quickly and completely.
Call us at 925-267-8251 to set up a dental sealant appointment. You can also call us for a routine checkup or use our convenient online scheduling tool.
