22 Apr Do Your Kids Need Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are an excellent addition to mouths of any age. They help shield our teeth from invasive bacteria in a safe, painless, and efficient way. Plus, they’re cost-effective, sturdy, and easy to install.
At Hicks Dental Group in Prescott, we can’t advocate for sealants enough. While sources vary on this issue, we encourage parents to get sealants for their children. We’ve been in practice for forty years, and we’re experts on all issues related to dental sealants for kids. Here are the many benefits of getting your child set up with sealants for a lifetime of dental health.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants, made of a bonded resin material, are applied to individual molars to keep away plaque. They’re applied using a special acidic gel which helps fuse them to the tooth. After the gel is dried, the sealant seeps into the tooth’s crevice. This provides powerful protection against decay.
While your dentist will determine if you are eligible for sealants, they’re suitable for most patients. In fact, since sealants prevent 80% of cavities in back teeth and pose so few risks, there’s little reason for dentists not to recommend them.
Why Kids Should Get Dental Sealants
Here are the key benefits of dental sealants for kids:
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- They work spectacularly. Kids are prone to more cavities than adults due to their love of sugar and inexperience in dental hygiene. Cavities occur when plaque builds up in the mouth and starts eating away at teeth. But as we’ve stated, sealants do an amazing job protecting your enamel from bacteria and plaque.
- They’re easy to apply. The process of installing sealants is done in one day, and causes very little discomfort. It’s also a low-risk procedure, making it relatively stress free for kids.
- They’re easy to take care of. Not only do they last for a long time, but kids can easily maintain their own sealants. They don’t make daily brushing routines any more difficult or timely.
- They set your child up on a path to lifelong oral hygiene. By getting your child seleants, you show them how important oral health is from a young age. Thus, they will begin to see it as a priority. This is an important lesson to learn early on in life.
The Perfect Age for Sealants
We believe that children, depending on their susceptibility to decay, should have sealants installed when their six-year molars arrive. Molars are the most vulnerable teeth in our mouths when it comes to decay. Studies have shown that kids without sealants are almost three times more likely to develop cavities. That’s why six is the perfect age for first-time seleants, as young as it may seem.
Dental Sealants For Kids—Are They Worth It?
Statistically speaking, sealants are well worth it! They cost around $60 per tooth maximum, and that’s without the help of insurance. Because they last so long and are so helpful for maintaining oral health, we encourage you to give them a try for your little one.
Family Dentist in Prescott
At Hicks Dental Group, we love our younger patients. We want to make sure their teeth are as safe from plaque as possible. In addition to daily brushing and flossing, consider dental sealants for your child. If you have any more questions about dental sealants for kids, let’s discuss them at your child’s next exam.
Image by Kiran Hania on Pixabay.