What Sealants Can Do for Your Children's Teeth!

In children, most decay happens on the chewing surfaces of back teeth where pits and fissures collect organic matter tooth brushing whiten-teethcannot remove. Your White Lake family dentist, Dr. David Campbell, often recommends plastic sealants to protect young children from cavities. After all, both baby and adult teeth play important roles in your child's jaw development, overall health, appearance speech, and nutrition. No tooth is a throwaway! Learn more about sealants and what they do for children's teeth.

 

Fighting against tooth decay

At this point, you may be asking, "just what are plastic sealants?" Applied in the office by your White Lake family dentist, sealants are coatings painted on back teeth to protect them from decay. In addition to careful brushing and flossing at home, a tooth-friendly diet and routine examinations and cleanings at Dr. Campbell's office, sealants shield grooved tooth enamel. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that children ages 6 to 11 without plastic sealants are three times as likely to get cavities on the primary molars.

Back teeth—particularly on the chewing surfaces—decay more easily as they hold onto organic matter and the bacteria which reside in them. These bacteria release destructive acids which destroy enamel, a process that creates what we call cavities.

As a child grows, the baby teeth are lost as permanent grow, and unfortunately, both can decay quite easily if not protected. Luckily, sealants are a great adjunct to oral hygiene habits and can help cavities at bay. Additionally, they are economical, long-lasting, and easily applied right in the treatment chair

 

How your dentist applies sealants

This procedure is quick and painless, and young children do well with it. First, the tooth is cleaned and dried off. Then, Dr. Campbell applies a mild etching liquid which helps the sealant adhere to the tooth enamel. Next, he adds the liquid sealant with a small brush. Lastly, the sealant is cured (hardened) with a UV light.

That's it! After these simple steps, the tooth is ready to use and protected for up to ten years. During the following routine examinations, Dr. Campbell checks the condition of sealants to be sure they are intact and conferring the protection they were designed for.

 

Give us a call!

Dr. David Campbell and his able team love answering patient questions. If you wish to know more about sealants for your children (or for you!) please ask at your next check-up. We want all of our patients to be fully informed on their oral health status and preventive measures. To book your next appointment with our family dentist, call the White Lake office at (248) 887-8397.

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