As our name suggests, West Bowmanville Family Dental is a family-oriented dental practice. We always warmly welcome children, recommending parents bring their child in for an initial dental checkup by age one or two. We know a good preventive dental care regime that includes regular brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent cavities. At the same time, teaching a child about oral hygiene early on helps them build healthy habits they can practice for life. However, some children may be more susceptible to tooth decay than others, and another preventive dental care treatment is to have dental sealants in Newcastle.
What Are Dental Sealants?
They consist of a thin layer of flowable plastic material that can be painted onto the clean surfaces of chewing teeth, the premolars and molars right at the back of the mouth. The sealant material flows into all the grooves and fissures on the surfaces and quickly hardens, creating a seal and preventing harmful bacteria from causing cavities in these teeth. Dental sealants are not a substitute for regular brushing and flossing but can be a useful preventive measure.
Protecting Teeth That Are More Prone to Cavities
Dental sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth because these surfaces are more vulnerable to cavities. The grooves and fissures that help grind food more efficiently can also just as easily trap food particles and decay-causing bacteria in dental plaque. Sometimes these grooves and fissures can be quite deep and tricky to clean with a toothbrush. Additionally, because these teeth are right at the back of the mouth, they can be harder to keep clean. Using dental sealants creates a smoother surface that is easy to brush, making it simpler to remove food debris and dental plaque.
When Should Dental Sealants Be Applied?
Generally, dental sealants are best applied soon after the adult molars and premolars erupt and before cavities are likely to form. Dental sealants can only be applied to healthy, cavity-free teeth with no fillings. Occasionally, children who still have their milk or primary teeth may benefit from dental sealants, especially if they are more prone to cavities. Applying sealants can help protect and preserve these teeth until they are ready to fall out and make room for the adult teeth. It’s important to ensure milk teeth aren’t lost too soon as they act as placeholders for adult teeth and allow children to eat comfortably and learn to talk and communicate with others more easily.
How Are Dental Sealants Applied?
The process of applying dental sealants is quick and painless. First, our dentist in Clarington will clean your child’s teeth before trying them thoroughly. Next, we lightly etch the tooth surfaces to create a stronger bond between the dental sealant and the tooth before rinsing off the etching fluid and drying each tooth again. The sealant can then be painted onto the teeth and hardened.
Does My Child Need Dental Sealants?
Every child visiting our dental practice receives a custom preventive dental care plan, which is devised after a careful examination of their teeth and a thorough review of their oral and overall health. Not every child may need dental sealants in Courtice, but this treatment can form an important part of a preventive program, combined with good nutrition, oral hygiene and regular dental checkups and cleans with us here at West Bowmanville Family Dental. Preventing cavities in permanent teeth can avoid the need for fillings or more extensive treatment like root canal therapy and crowns in the future.