The Importance of Dental Sealants in Children

As a parent, you are highly invested in the health and well-being of your children. Your kid’s dental health is an important part of their overall health and it should be given special care and attention. With that being said, dental sealants have become an essential part of any child’s dental workup. Dental issues usually take months and years to develop and often lead to more serious complications.

However, by ensuring that your children’s teeth and dental hygiene are well taken care of early enough, you help ensure that they maintain great and healthy teeth well into adulthood. Suffering dental issues as an adolescent or adult can seriously affect one’s quality of life. Rather than waiting for issues to happen then treating them, it is always best to take early measures to prevent these issues entirely.

How Do Dental Sealants Work?

Dental sealants are made of composite resin. This is a useful material that has a wide range of dental applications including making fillings and in dental bonding. Due to its versatility, dentists can use composite resin the best way they see fit. When to children’s dental health, it is often used in the form of dental sealants.

Our hind teeth usually contain tiny grooves or notches. While these aren’t a sign of disease or anything wrong, bacteria tend to hide in these grooves and begin to multiply and grow. Over time and with the lack of proper dental hygiene, the growth of bacteria can start to cause various problems.

Children are more susceptible to developing these problems than adults. This is because, between the ages of 5 and 15, they are usually more exposed to dental bacteria and problems. This is the period of their lives when they love to indulge in eating sugary foods and treats and pay very little attention to their dental health. This is why it is important to take preventative measures.

We use composite resin to seal up the grooves and notches, and thus, preventing bacteria from hiding and growing in them. It is recommended that children should start dental sealant treatments at the age of 5, when they start developing adult teeth. Consider bringing your child in for sealant treatment when new adult teeth start to show. Dental sealant treatments are particularly helpful for molars and other teeth located at the back of the mouth.

Composite resin generally has a long lifespan though it begins to fade after 5 to 7 years of application. Thus, children require resealing between the ages of 5 and 15. During the resealing session, the child’s teeth are also checked for any signs of dental issues.

Can I get dental sealants as an adult?

Yes, you can still benefit from dental sealants as an adult. However, because of the reasons mentioned above, it makes more sense to get them as a child. Besides, dental sealants aren’t typically included in most insurance policies. Children’s dental sealant treatments are normally included, but as an adult, you have to pay out of pocket.

The dental health of your child is and should be a priority. While many advances have been made in the dental industry, nothing beats having healthy natural teeth. Prophylactic procedures such as dental sealants can help to ensure that your child’s teeth remain strong and healthy. When they get into adulthood with good teeth, they are more likely to maintain them that way for a long time to come. Contact us today to learn more about similar prophylactic procedures.