What are sealants?
A sealant is a special plastic coating used to prevent tooth decay. We recommend that children get sealants on their premolars and permanent molars so that their teeth are protected into their teen years.
Sealants are made from thin plastic or resin-based material. After we paint the sealant onto your child’s teeth, the flexible material conforms to its ridges and creates a protective shield. As your child’s molars start to come in, the ridges on the chewing surfaces become harder to clean. They can harbor plaque and bacteria that can cause cavities. You can expect sealants to protect your child’s teeth for up to nine years. Dental sealants prevent plaque and decay by forming a protective layer over the ridges on your child’s teeth.
We can also use sealants on teeth with small cavities to prevent the cavity from getting larger. Even though your child will eventually lose their baby teeth, we want to keep them healthy so that they remain in place until their permanent teeth are developed and ready to come in. Should your child’s tooth lose a sealant, we can easily replace it.
What is the process for applying sealants?
Before we apply the sealant, we clean the tooth and apply an acid that roughens the surface of the tooth. We need to roughen the tooth’s surface so that the sealant properly bonds to it. Then, we clean the acid from your child’s tooth and coat the tooth with the sealant. We use a light to cure and harden the sealant. The process for applying sealants is fast, pain-free, and requires no anesthesia.
What are the benefits?
Sealants have multiple benefits that make them a terrific option for your kids:
Dental sealants protect your child’s teeth against cavities
The protective layer that sealants form on your child’s teeth is highly effective at lowering their risk of tooth decay. When combined with regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings, sealants dramatically reduce your child’s chances of experiencing cavities or plaque buildup.
Cavities cause pain and sensitivity, and when left untreated, they can lead to infection or damage that threatens the function and appearance of your child’s tooth. Untreated cavities can even harm your child’s other teeth and the health of their gum tissue.
Sealants are durable and long-lasting
Sealants provide almost a decade of protection. Many insurance plans cover the cost of sealants, making them an affordable solution for supporting your child’s oral health.
Sealants are invisible
The thin material that we use for sealants is invisible and won’t affect the appearance or functionality of your child’s tooth. Your child may notice that their tooth feels a little different or has a slicker surface, but they’ll be able to bite, chew, and speak like usual.
Sealants, Queens & Brooklyn, New York
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A special plastic coating used to prevent tooth decay on premolars and permanent molars.
