What are Dental Sealants?

They are effectively a “shield” for the teeth to prevent against cavities. Most teeth have deep pits, fissures and grooves in them that trap food and bacteria. As food and bacteria sit in these deepest areas of a tooth, a cavity can form. The dental sealants help occlude or close off the pits of back molars..

How much do they help?

Dental sealants reduce decay by 80%. This is very significant for permanent teeth. These are the chewing molars that you child will continue to use for a lifetime. According to the CDC, "school-age children without dental sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants."

When are dental sealants placed?

When the six year molars erupt, Dr. Jadav highly recommends dental sealants be placed. These molars stay in the mouth for the longest period of time as they are the first set of permanent molars to emerge. They will stay in your child’s mouth for a lifetime. For optimal protection, the dental sealant should be placed as soon as the tooth fully erupts. Dr. Jadav will examine these teeth at every six month recare visit to determine the right time for application.

Is it true that there is BPA in dental sealants?

Yes, there is a very small amount of BPA in sealants. However, you get more exposure to BPA by touching a receipt, using cosmetics or coming in contact with dust. At University Pediatric Dentistry, as an added precaution, we thoroughly rinse each tooth after sealant placement to minimize BPA exposure for your child.

How does Dr. Jadav apply dental sealants?

Applying dental sealants does not require any numbing or shots. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned by brushing first. Then, an etchant pre-treats and roughens the tooth. Dr. Urvi Jadav then paints on the dental sealant. Once it is placed, a blue dental curing light is used to “cure” it. It will then harden. We know that most of the materials we use taste sour or bitter. In order to minimize that unpleasant taste exposure for our patients, we often utilize an Isolite to help create a barrier between these materials and your child’s mouth. An Isolite is a unique device can has a bite block to help relax the patient’s jaw, suction to remove excess fluid, and a soft material that molds to the patient’s mouth for a comfortable fit. This also helps ensure that they do not swallow anything during the process. It creates a very safe barrier.

How should I explain sealants to my child?

You can explain that Dr. Jadav is going to “paint your teeth”. Dr. Jadav always tells the patients that she will paint a “shield” on their teeth so that they don’t get cavities. Usually, we do something fun and have the kids pick out a make-believe design they would like drawn. This just makes it more fun for the kids. By involving them in the process, they tend to do a lot better!

If you have any other questions about dental sealants, send us an email at upediatricdentistry@gmail.com or call our Sugar Land Office located in Riverstone at 832-844-0011.

Sources:

* https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/dental-sealants

*Banner Image - GettyImages Stock Photo