Dental Sealants for Kids Help Protect Growing Smiles from Cavities
As a good parent, you teach your children the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day, flossing diligently, and using an alcohol-free mouthwash.
But for even the best brushers, cavities can still form more easily in molars with all of their pits and grooves for food and bacteria to sit in. The grooves in molars are highly susceptible to trapped sugars. This is why dental sealants for kids have become an important part of preventative dental care.
But, if you’re like many parents, you probably have questions. For instance, they may seem like a good idea, but what are the downsides of dental sealants? What are they made of? Are they safe? Does dental insurance cover sealants for kids? Below, we attempt to answer all your burning questions.
What are Pediatric Dental Sealants?
Dental sealant is a thin white or clear resin liquid coating that is brushed onto the tops and sides of your child’s back teeth to stop the early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity.
Sealants are made of the same type of materials that are used for white fillings. The sealant is applied to the back teeth using a small brush and then is bonded to the teeth by using a blue LED light.
All of this is done without the use of anesthesia because it is not a painful procedure. What the patient is left with after the sealant has been administered is a hard coating of protection on their teeth.
But do they work? Yes! The American Dental Association (ADA) says that “sealants are effective in preventing and arresting pit-and-fissure occlusal caries lesions of primary and permanent molars in children and adolescents compared to the non-use of sealants or use of fluoride varnishes; and sealants can minimize the progression of non-cavitated occlusal caries lesions (also referred to as initial lesions) of the tooth that received the sealant.”
Sealants for kids are most effective in preventing cavities when they are applied soon after permanent molars come in, around six years old. So if you’re asking “Is it appropriate to get sealant on my 6-year-old’s molars?” the answer is “Yes!”. In fact, that’s actually one of the best times. That said, 6 years old isn’t a hard and fast number. The important thing is to monitor your child for the growth of adult teeth. When their adult molars come in, sealants should ideally be applied right afterwards.
Nwiote that the ADA recommends the use of dental sealants for kids with teeth early stages of a cavity to help stop decay. In other words, sealants can be used to both prevent cavities and to stop early cavities from getting worse.
Are Dental Sealants Safe for Kids?
Sealants for kids teeth are widely considered an effective, non-invasive way to protect your child from cavities because they are bonded to the tooth and nothing gets inside the tooth, as a filling would.
As mentioned, they can be applied on adult teeth. But they can also be applied to baby teeth. The best time to place sealants on baby teeth is shortly after they erupt into the mouth.
Dental sealants are easy and generally painless to apply. The Super Dentists will check the dental sealants at each visit and let you know if a reapplication is needed.
In the past, there was concern that sealants contain BPA, a plastic that is known to be harmful, but most modern sealants are BPA-free.
How Long Do Sealants Last for Children?
The CDC says that once applied, sealants for kids teeth protect against 80% of cavities for two years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years.
Many sealants have shown to work up to 10 years after placement. When a sealant falls off, it is usually because the tooth is not clean or dry as the sealant is applied, or because patients were not taking proper care of them. However, missing sealants are easy to replace. The Super Dentists will be sure to check on your child’s sealants at cleaning visits to make sure they are still in place.
Sealants for kids last two times longer if they have good oral hygiene and avoid certain foods.
Are There Certain Foods That My Child Should Avoid After Getting Sealants?
Your child does not need to wait to eat after getting sealants. Hungry kids are not happy kids! But there are foods that are good to avoid after getting sealants. Avoid the following foods:
- Ice
- Jawbreakers and hard candy
- Popcorn
- Caramel and toffee
Research shows that sealants reduce the risk of decay in molars by nearly 80 percent.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Sealants for Kids?
Many dental insurance plans include coverage for sealants for eligible children, but benefits vary. Coverage may depend on your child’s age, which teeth are being sealed, how frequently the benefit can be used, and the details of your specific plan.
We are happy to help answer questions about your visit and available benefits. For exact coverage and out-of-pocket costs, check the details of your individual dental plan.
Give Your Child’s Smile an Extra Layer of Super Protection
Dental sealants for children are generally safe and can be a very effective measure in preventingcavities or stopping the growth of early-stage existing cavities. They’re usually painless to apply, and can be applied on both baby teeth and adult teeth.
Wondering if sealants are the right choice? Ask The Super Dentists if dental sealants are recommended for you and your kids now!
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