40% OF KIDS WILL have at least one cavity by the time they start school, usually due to poor oral hygiene and eating and drinking lots of sugary things. It’s critical to teach kids good oral health habits early on and to help them brush their teeth until they are able to do it themselves, but it can still be tricky for them to clean out the crevices in their molars. That’s where sealants come in.
Dental sealants are a layer of clear plastic that we brush onto the chewing surfaces of teeth to keep cavity-causing plaque and bacteria out. Sealants reduce childhood tooth decay in the back teeth by as much as 80%, which is why they’ve been such a popular treatment since the 1960s. The application process is quick, painless, and easy and can be done within a regular appointment.
We recommend that kids get sealants as soon as their first adult molars erupt, which is usually around age 6. The earlier, the better, but sealants aren’t only for young children; older kids, teens, and adults can get them too!
Dental sealants are a remarkable preventive tool that can safeguard your or your child’s oral health for years to come. By providing a protective barrier against cavities, especially in those hard-to-reach areas of your molars and premolars, they offer a simple yet effective way to maintain a healthy smile.
THERE'S A GOOD REASON dental health professionals warn their patients not to chew ice. This...
MINIMIZING THE RISK of childhood tooth injuries starts with knowing the most common causes of…
THE AMERICAN CANCER Society estimates that there will be over 54,000 new oral cancer cases...
WE DENTAL HEALTH professionals tend to be big fans of the Tooth Fairy. We can…
WOMEN FACED AN uphill battle establishing themselves in many career...
ON THE LONG list of things parents need to teach their kids in childhood is…