Protecting your child’s smile with safe, simple, and effective dental sealants is one of the best steps you can take for their oral health.
As a parent, you’re always looking for ways to protect your child’s health—and their smile is no exception. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we emphasize the importance of pediatric preventive dental care, especially during childhood, when oral health habits and vulnerabilities are forming.
One preventive solution we often recommend for kids is dental sealants: a simple, effective way to guard against cavities and ensure their teeth stay healthy for years to come.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are thin, protective coatings made from dental-grade plastic that are applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth, including molars and premolars. These surfaces contain deep grooves and pits where food particles and bacteria can hide, making them particularly vulnerable to decay. Sealants act as a barrier, “sealing out” food and plaque that could lead to cavities.
Why Children Benefit from Dental Sealants
Children are perfect candidates for dental sealants for several reasons:
- Developing Brushing Skills: Most children are still mastering proper brushing techniques and may miss cleaning the deep grooves in their molars.
- Cavity-Prone Years: The CDC reports that children aged 6 to 11 are particularly susceptible to cavities in their permanent teeth.
- Protection During Critical Development: Sealants protect newly erupted permanent teeth during the years when they’re most vulnerable to decay.
- Long-term cost savings: Preventing a cavity is always less expensive and less uncomfortable than treating one.
The Sealant Application Process: Comfortable and Quick
For patients who experience dental anxiety or those with special needs, the sealant application process is one of the most straightforward dental procedures available:
- Cleaning: The tooth surface is thoroughly cleaned.
- Conditioning: A special gel is briefly applied to help the sealant bond properly to the tooth.
- Rinsing and Drying: The gel is rinsed away, and the tooth is dried.
- Application: The liquid sealant is painted onto the tooth surface, flowing into the grooves.
- Curing: A special light is used to harden the sealant, creating a protective shield.
The entire process takes just a few minutes per tooth, involves no drilling or removal of tooth structure, and is completely painless. For children with dental anxiety or sensory sensitivities, this quick, comfortable procedure is ideal.
Sealants and Special Needs Dentistry
At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we specialize in providing dental care for patients with special needs. Dental sealants can be particularly beneficial for these patients:
- Reduced Need for Future Treatments: By preventing cavities, sealants minimize the need for more invasive procedures that might be challenging for patients with special needs.
- Adaptable Procedure: The application process can be modified to accommodate patients with various physical, developmental, or sensory sensitivities.
- Protection for Patients with Limited Dexterity: For those who may struggle with thorough brushing due to motor skill challenges, sealants provide an extra layer of protection.
When Should Children Get Sealants?
Dentists typically recommend applying sealants as soon as the permanent molars erupt:
- First permanent molars – around age 6
- Second permanent molars – around age 12
However, in some cases, sealants may be recommended for primary (baby) teeth, especially if those teeth have deep grooves or if the child is particularly prone to cavities.
Schedule Your Child’s Sealant Consultation
Dental sealants represent one of the most effective preventive measures available for protecting your child’s teeth during their cavity-prone years. At The Dental Anesthesia Center in St. Louis, we specialize in making this simple procedure comfortable for all children, including those with dental anxiety or special needs.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.