The 101 on Sealants

Do you know what dental sealants are, or the many benefits they offer to your children’s teeth? Chances are you’ve heard of sealants before, but either haven’t asked your dentist about them or still need to conduct a bit more research before deciding whether or not they’re a good option for your kids.

With that in mind, we wanted to share with you the knowledge our dentists here at Family Dentistry have about sealants.

Sealants protect teeth

At their most basic function, sealants are designed to help protect teeth from getting cavities. They’re made from plastic material that’s placed in the nooks and crannies of teeth that can’t be reached all that well with a toothbrush. Since children are notoriously bad brushers, this is why most dentists recommend sealants for kids at younger ages.

How do they work?

Sealants work by filling in and smoothing out all the grooves in your teeth. These are the places where chunks of food get caught, which attracts the bad bacteria that causes cavities.

Do they really help?

This is perhaps the biggest question asked about sealants – are they worth the cost and do they work as promised?

The short answer is yes, but we’ll take a look at the why as well. Sealants helps because they protect teeth from cavity-causing bacteria, last for nearly a decade, and aid in tooth health as your children become accustomed to caring for their adult teeth.

Sealants may not be right for every child, depending on their established brushing habits and current oral health state. But our doctors will work with you to determine the best course of action in order to ensure your children’s mouths are as healthy as possible. If you have any questions about sealants, you can call us today to schedule a consultation appointment.