Protect Your Child's Smile with Dental Sealants

Brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing is the best way to prevent tooth decay, but thoroughly cleaning every nick and cranny in your mouth can be challenging, especially for children. However, there is a way to prevent cavities in children's mouths while they learn how to brush properly and floss: dental sealant.

What are dental sealants

Since toothbrushes can't reach into all the deep grooves of the back of chewing teeth, plaque and bacteria get left behind. Dental sealants are a special coating your dentist can apply to your child's teeth. After application, the sealant hardens and becomes a barrier between your child's new teeth and decay. The sealant will last for several years after application.

Who can get dental sealants

Dental sealants are perfect for children between the ages of six and fourteen. The American Dental Association recommends that children have sealant applied to their permanent molar as they emerge. Typically their first set of molars will appear around age six, and their second set of molars will appear around the age of twelve. Children are especially at risk for cavities and tooth decay in their molars since they might not have an oral hygiene routine firmly in place. Dental sealant prevents decay in children's permanent molars, where they might not reach with a toothbrush.

Benefits of Dental Sealants

Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay for children significantly. Sealants are typically applied in the back of the mouth, where 9 in 10 cavities occur. For the first two years after application, sealants prevent 80% of cavities in your child's mouth, and in the following 2 years, they have been shown to prevent up to 50% of cavities. Having dental sealant applied sets your child up for a healthy smile for life!

how sealants are applied

Applying dental sealants is a quick and painless process. First, your dentist will clean and dry your child's teeth and then paint a gel on the tooth that will help the sealant stick. After that, the dentist will paint the sealant on the tooth and harden it with a special blue light. In total, the process takes no more than five minutes per tooth and is covered by many insurances! Alluvion Health's Dental Clinic offers dental sealants and many other services to keep you and your family's smiles healthy. To learn more, visit www.alluvionhealth.org/services/dental.

To learn more about dental sealants and how they can help your child's oral health visit cdc.gov/vitalsigns/dental-sealants/

Dr. Cole Funseth is a Doctor of Dental Surgery at Alluvion Health.  He enjoys helping people move forward in their healthcare journey and relieving their pain.