Should Your Child Get Dental Sealants?

One question that parents often have for their pediatric dental specialists is if your child should get dental sealants. The groves on the top of their teeth is a common place where cavities tend to form with children, and there is a way to prevent cavities from forming. Here is what you need to know about dental sealants to decide if your child should get them.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are a white material that goes into the grooves on the top of the teeth, which will prevent all of the bad bacteria from getting in there and forming cavities. It's not the same as getting a resin colored filling, but will coat the teeth so that all the impacted food will not cause a cavity. 

Is Your Child A Good Candidate For Dental Sealants?

Any child can be a good candidate for dental sealants, but those that have deep grooves in their teeth will benefit from it the most. Your child may have a hard time keeping this part of their mouth clean over time, and they need something to fill in the groves to prevent them from collecting bacteria causing foods.

Does Getting Dental Sealants Installed Hurt?

The process of getting dental sealants is actually pain free. It only takes about a minute to apply a sealant to each tooth, and Novocaine is not needed to numb the area that the dentist is working on. Your child should not feel any discomfort during the process of putting dental sealants on their teeth.

Which Teeth Can Get Dental Sealants?

A dentist will only apply a sealant to the rear teeth that have deep grooves in them, since you cannot put a sealant on the front teeth and have it be effective. However, it is possible to have sealants applied to baby teeth. The main problem you'll run into with this is finding dental insurance that will cover applying sealants to baby teeth, but your dentist will do it if they feel like your child can benefit from having sealants placed on those teeth. For example, if a child has already had cavities form in their baby teeth, or see problems during their checkup where the dentist notices that those teeth are at risk.

Still not sure if you should get dental sealants for your child? Speak with your dentist about it. Go to a website like http://www.childrensdent.com for more information. Sealants are not a replacement for getting your child to brush their teeth, but they can help prevent cavities. 

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