Dental Sealants Can Improve Your Child’s Dental Health

A daily thorough brushing and flossing are two of the most important things one can do to help remove food particles and plaque from their mouth and teeth. Unfortunately, this dental routine can’t reach all the grooves and depressions of the teeth. Even with fluoride use to fight off decay, the grooves and pitted areas still remain prone to plaque and bacteria buildup. This is where dental sealants come in, as they add an extra layer of protection for the teeth found in the far back of our mouths. When it comes to our San Leandro children, experts recommend that the primary biting teeth, or the molars, be the ones to be sealed. While every tooth is susceptible to cavities, the molars are simply much harder to reach by brushing or flossing, especially for young brushers.

Dental sealants are plastic materials placed on the molars and premolars to seal out bacteria and acids that may result to cavities and tooth decay. When used in conjunction with a strict oral care routine that includes brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, a healthy diet and regular checkups, as well as professional cleanings, dental sealants help provide total dental protection. But what does the procedure involve?

Placing dental sealants is usually a painless procedure and doesn’t require the use of anesthesia or drilling. This means that the procedure should go relatively easy for children, even when their parents are not with them. However, if your child feels uneasy or uncomfortable, it may be a better for you to stay with them in the dentist’s office throughout the whole procedure.

The application of dental sealant typically involves the following steps:

Preparation. The surface of the tooth is polished and cleaned to remove plaque, as well as food debris. Then, the tooth is isolated, dried and the surface etched, rinsed off and then dried once again.

Application. The dental sealant material is then applied to the surface of the tooth using a brush. A self-curing light is then used to make sure that the sealant is properly bonded to the tooth surface.

Evaluation. The dental sealant is then checked and evaluated. It’s then left to harden and once it becomes a hard plastic coating, the tooth can be used for chewing again.

After the procedure, the sealants can be left alone and your child can go on normally like nothing happened. What’s better is that your child and especially you can rest easy knowing that you’ve helped make sure that your child won’t have to worry much about cavities and dental decay anymore.

Contact Creative Dimensions Dentistry in Castro Valley, CA at 510-881-8010 to schedule an appointment for a checkup today. 

Creative Dimensions Dentistry proudly serves Castro Valley, San Leandro, Hayward, Oakland, Fremont, Russell City and all surrounding areas.