What Are Dental Sealants and Why Are They Important in Early Dental Care for Kids?

Teaching your child the importance of brushing and flossing teeth is vital to prevent cavities and maintaining good oral hygiene. However, even if your child learns these great oral hygiene habits, cleaning the grooves in the teeth and back of the mouth is not easy. Food particles and bacteria can get stuck where the brush does not reach well. 

Unfortunately, your child may have cavities, even when they practice good oral hygiene. 

There is another way of safeguarding your child’s teeth that guarantees they are safe from cavities-dental sealants. Other ways to protect cavities include:

• Brushing and flossing at least twice a day
• Encouraging healthy snacks
• Regular visits to the dentist

Read on to learn more about dental sealants and how they benefit your child. 

What Are Dental Sealants?

If you are in Surrey, British Columbia, getting your child to our dental office for dental sealants is the best thing you can do to keep your child’s teeth safe. As the name suggests, dental sealants seal and safeguard the teeth. The dentist will place them on the grooved areas with pits in the premolar and molars. So, they add an extra layer of protection over the areas that are hard to brush and more prone to cavities. The material creates a smooth surface, protecting your child’s teeth from cavities. 

Using dental sealant to apply early dental care for children is vital to help prevent tooth decay and other oral diseases. Therefore, children from the age of 6 to 14 years can get dental sealants. 

The Benefits of Dental Sealants for Children

Applying dental sealants is a quick procedure that helps protect children’s teeth until they can master proper oral hygiene. However, you need to help your child handle dental anxiety to make the process successful. When it does, here are the benefits to gain.

• They Protect Against Cavity – The work of dental sealants is to protect your child’s teeth from cavities. They cover the top of premolars and molars with hard-to-reach grooves and pits. The smooth surface prevents bacteria from remaining on the teeth. Dental sealants can stay up to ten years. 
• The Procedure is Painless – Applying sealants is quick and painless. The teeth are cleaned and prepared for the sealant using a mild solution. The work of the solution is to roughen the surface for easier bonding with the sealant. The sealant is then brushed onto the tooth. 
• They Last Long – Sealants can stay on the teeth for ten years with proper care. The dentist will check them during your regular visits and might recommend repair if necessary. 

The Bottom Line

Early dental care in children is crucial. So, dentists recommend dental sealants to protect your child’s teeth from cavities. If you are interested in the procedure, Surrey Place Dental Group in Surrey, British Columbia, is here to help. Call our team at (604) 969-4212 and book an appointment.

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