Pediatric Dentistry: Dental Sealants

Wondering whether your child will benefit from pediatric dentistry services? It is essential for parents to make the right choice of dentist for their children, as taking care of a child’s dental health is just as important as taking care of an adult’s dental health. The health of a child’s first set of teeth helps to determine the health of their second set of teeth.

About pediatric dentists

Pediatric dentistry is a branch of dentistry that many parents are choosing for their children. Pediatric dentists are authorities in dental care for children because they have decided to specifically focus on treating children, making them the go-to dentist for children until they reach the age of 18. One of the more common preventive dental treatments children need is dental sealants, as this treatment is one that helps prevent cavities in children.

Dental sealants

According to the American Dental Association, sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. While brushing and flossing are very important parts of a child’s daily oral hygiene routine, it can be difficult for children to clean their teeth properly. This means many children need a little extra help to avoid cavities, as cavities are a dental issue to be avoided at all costs. The process of placing sealants on a child’s teeth is a fairly simple one.

Sealants are often explained as being raincoats for teeth. Once sealants are applied to teeth, they are protected from the problems that leftover food, bacteria and acid can cause. The process of applying dental sealants to teeth requires a dentist to simply clean and dry each tooth before carefully applying an acidic gel on the teeth, as this gel allows the sealant to bond to the tooth. Once the gel sets, the gel is rinsed off of the teeth, and then each tooth is once again dried so the sealant can be applied. A dental light is then used to harden the sealants.

While sealants can be applied to every tooth, they are most commonly applied to a child’s molars. A child’s first set of molars tends to come in around the age of five or six, and a child’s second set of molars tends to come in around the age of 11 or 12. Since sealants last upwards of four to five years, they do not need to be reapplied often. In order for parents to know when their child is in need of an additional application, they need to make regular dental appointments so a dentist can check to see when new sealants are necessary.

In need of dental sealants?

Parents who choose to take their children to see a pediatric dentist know that their children will be treated properly, making this type of dental professional a popular one. The fact that pediatric dentists are specifically trained in treating children makes them a great option for children who are in need of dental sealants or other treatments.

Are you considering pediatric dentistry in the Columbia area? Get more information at https://columbiadentaloffice.com.

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