Finding ways to protect your child’s smile is paramount in your life. Fortunately, we offer a variety of ways to keep teeth and gums in excellent condition. When it comes to protect those harder-to-reach teeth in the back of your child’s smile, we suggest you learn more about dental sealants. Providing a barrier over the nooks and crannies within molars offers exceptional protection against the development of tooth decay, most often caused by trapped bacteria that your child has difficulty removing with daily brushing.
What Is A Dental Sealant?
A dental sealant is a protective covering that we place over your child’s back teeth – on the chewing surfaces only. Composed of clear plastic, the sealant acts as a physical barrier. You see, plaque – a substance that is extremely sticky and filled with bacteria – adheres to teeth every day (children’s and adults’ teeth alike). Removing the plaque with preventive care means you don’t have to worry about cavities or gum disease. However, plaque that remains on tooth tissue will eventually lead to a cavity. Your child is still developing brushing habits, which means providing sealants will help keep back teeth free of tooth decay.
What Is The Procedure Like?
We will prepare your child’s tooth with a simple cleaning process. Once the tooth is ready, we will paint on a layer of clear plastic, which will act as the dental sealant. We will need to set the sealant, which may include the use of a special curing light. That’s all it takes. From there, the sealant will degrade on its own – eventually wearing away over the course of five to 10 years. We may replace the sealant if it wears away quickly or if your child continues to require additional protection.
ABOUT YOUR KELLER, TX DENTIST:
Brent Cornelius DDS provides patients of every age with comfortable dental care. To learn more about our comprehensive treatments, which include general, cosmetic, restorative dentistry, and sedation dentistry, in addition to dental implants, contact us today at 817-431-4200. We offer compassionate care to patients from Keller, TX, as well as Roanoke, Trophy Club, Southlake, Westlake, North Richland Hills, and surrounding areas.
