Do Dental Sealants Help Prevent Cavities in Children?
According to the American Dental Association’s Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry, dental sealants are one of the most significant advances in modern dentistry. This simple process forms a barrier on back molars that prevents acid and bacteria from destroying tooth enamel.
Brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from the smooth surfaces of your teeth, but you can’t always get into all the nooks and crannies of the back teeth to remove the debris and plaque. Dental sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by “sealing out” plaque and food.
This is especially important when it comes to your child’s dental health. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report on the importance of sealants for school-aged children stating, “school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.”
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants have been around since the mid-60’s and have proven to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80 percent. A thin coat of the sealant is painted onto the chewing surfaces of your molars, filling in the deep pits and grooves that put you at a higher risk of having tooth decay. The sealant then hardens into a durable, protective coating that protects against cavities for up to 10 years.
Are Sealants Just for Children?
Children obviously benefit from sealants, but adults can also benefit from the protective application of sealants. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), sealing molars as soon as they come in can keep them cavity-free from the onset; the earlier, the better. Sealants offer greater protection early in life, but it’s never too late to protect the chewing surface of cavity-free teeth with sealants.
Sealants can save time and money down the road by avoiding the need to treat tooth decay with fillings and crowns.
Give Your Child a Good Oral Foundation with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS
Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS has a commitment to excellence for your whole family’s dental needs. Introducing your children to regular dental care in early childhood, will establish a healthy foundation during their formative years that continues into adulthood. Children are much more likely to escape cavities when they establish those healthy dental habits early on.
Regular dental appointments every six months are recommended by the ADA and are essential for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums.
During those regular dental visits Dr. Evanson will be cognizant of when your child’s back teeth start surfacing during the cavity-prone years, usually between the ages 6 to 14. At that point, she will likely recommend sealants for your child since the chances of developing decay in the crevices and grooves of the molars, increases as they grow older.
Dental Sealants Are Part of Good Oral Care
Dental sealants, along with good daily oral care are part of a complete dental health plan and are not an alternative for brushing and flossing. Nothing takes the place of daily oral care which should include the following:
- Brush your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Floss your teeth once a day to remove plaque from between your teeth—another area your toothbrush can’t reach.
- See Dr. Evanson every six months for professional cleaning and examination.
We invite you to call Dr. Evanson at (720) 409-0008 to schedule an appointment or contact us online. Be sure to ask about the use of dental sealants to prevent cavities for your children and to learn about the other services we provide for your whole family.
Dental sealants may mean the difference between a lifetime of healthy teeth and painful dental cavities.
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