Children’s dentistry is an important part of our Bowmanville practice, and we warmly welcome families. We focus on preventive dentistry, providing treatments like fluoride applications to help protect children’s teeth. Dental sealants are a treatment that can help prevent tooth decay.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants work by forming a barrier over the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. These are the molars and premolars used for grinding up food.
These back teeth have many intricate grooves and fissures which can trap food and bacteria. Sometimes, these grooves and fissures are quite deep, so they are tricky to keep clean by brushing alone. Consequently, these teeth are more prone to developing cavities.
Dental sealants seal the chewing surfaces, filling in all the grooves and fissures and creating a smooth, easy-to-keep-clean surface.
How Do Dental Sealants Work?
The sealants are made from a BPA-free plastic material, creating a thin, nearly invisible skin over the chewing surfaces. The sealants are thin enough so they do not interfere with your bite.
The plastic is painted onto teeth as a flowable liquid to easily get into all those grooves and fissures before hardening.
Who Can Have Dental Sealants?
Treatment is usually provided for children alone as it only works on teeth that are cavity-free and which don’t have any fillings. The sealants can be applied to a child’s adult back teeth soon after they erupt and before tooth decay develops.
Sometimes, dental sealants in Newcastle are applied to a child’s primary or milk teeth. Treatment may be useful if a child is more prone to cavities, as protecting these teeth will help prevent infection and decay and reduce the risk of milk teeth being lost too soon.
Adults with strong, cavity-free back teeth can also have this treatment if they don’t have any fillings. However, dental sealants may be less necessary when there is a lower chance of tooth decay developing.
What Is the Process for Dental Sealants?
The process of getting dental sealants is quick, non-invasive, and painless. Your child’s teeth must be cleaned professionally before the chewing surfaces are etched with a special fluid. Etching the teeth creates a slightly rougher surface, increasing the bond between the tooth and sealant.
The etching fluid is washed off and the tooth is dried before the sealant is painted on. It soon flows into all the grooves and fissures and can be hardened with a light. There is no downtime afterwards; your child can eat and drink normally.
Should My Child Have Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants in Clarington are just one preventive treatment available; not every child will need them. We provide a custom preventive dental care plan for every patient, including children. When your child first visits us, we can examine their teeth and jaws and assess their risk of oral disease before recommending a suitable plan.
Even if your child does have dental sealants in Courtice, it is vital to ensure they still have an excellent oral care routine. Dental sealants cannot replace regular brushing and flossing.
Looking for a Good Children’s Dentist?
Come and visit us at West Bowmanville Family Dental. We recommend that children begin seeing a dentist regularly from age 3 onwards and go out of our way to ensure that visits are as enjoyable and positive as possible. Our dental team are friendly and approachable, treating your child like their own. Large-screen TVs are available in all our treatment rooms to help your little one relax.
Contact us today to schedule your child’s first visit.
