Protect Your Child’s Teeth: The Benefits of Dental Sealants for Cavity Prevention

As a parent, you’ll do anything to keep your child’s teeth cavity-free and healthy. One of the best ways to prevent cavities and protect their emerging teeth is with dental sealants. Thin, protective coatings that keep bacteria and food bits from settling into the deep crevices of their molars, dental sealants are a top recommendation at Moreno Valley Dental Care as an easy, pain-free, and affordable way to protect your child’s smile!

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are a clear or tooth-colored resin that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where cavities most frequently develop. Even with regular brushing and flossing, these areas are difficult for children to clean thoroughly. Sealants create a smooth surface that acts as a barrier, keeping plaque and bacteria that cause tooth decay out.

Benefits of Dental Sealants for Kids

Prevention of Cavities: Sealants have the capacity to prevent cavities by as high as 80% for molars, a highly successful mode of pediatric dentistry.

Extended Protection: Proper care and sealants have a useful lifespan of some years, giving extensive protection for the teeth of your child.

Easy & Painless Procedure: Application is painless and straightforward, being carried out just within a minute or two on every tooth.

Affordable: Preventing them by sealing cavities is much cheaper than crowning or filling teeth in the future.

Effective & Safe: Sealants are advocated by the American Dental Association (ADA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a safe and effective preventive treatment for children.

When Should Children Get Dental Sealants?

Sealants work best when placed as soon as the permanent molars come in, usually between ages 6 and 12. But even teenagers and adults who are cavity-prone can have sealants.

How to Care for Dental Sealants

Sealant care is simple! Follow these tips to help them last as long as possible:

• Promote good oral hygiene practices, including brushing with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day and flossing once a day.
• Do not chew hard objects (like ice or pens) that can chip away the sealants.
• Visit Moreno Valley Dental Care regularly to have sealants checked for chipping and wear and replace them when needed.

Help Protect Your Child’s Smile Today!

Prevention is the key to a healthy smile! If you’re looking for a trusted pediatric dentist in Moreno Valley, we’re here to help. Ask us about dental sealants and how they can benefit your child’s oral health. Call us to make your appointment today!