Are Dental Sealants a Good Option for My Child?

As parents, we all worry about our children developing cavities. Not only is it an expense that we would rather not face but no child wants to sit in a dental chair dealing with the scary sounds of a drill. However, our Bloomington, IN, family dentist, Dr. Lisa Baker, is here to tell you that there is yet one more thing you can do to protect your child’s smile from cavities and it’s called dental sealants.

What are dental sealants and what do they do?

This special, oral-friendly plastic coating is placed over the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth to help seal it and keep food and bacteria from getting trapped. Sealants are only placed on your child’s molars because, as you can see, the chewing surfaces of the molars have a lot of nooks and crannies where food and bacteria can easily hide. Even kids who maintain great oral hygiene can’t always get all the bacteria out of these crevices. This is where dental sealants come in. By sealing these crevices we reduce your child’s risk of developing cavities in more susceptible areas of their smiles.

How are dental sealants placed?

When your child comes in to visit their Bloomington dentist for their six-month cleaning, we will also be able to place sealants. This procedure is completely painless and only takes a few minutes to complete. We will start by painting the tops of these back teeth with the clear plastic sealant. Once the sealant is applied a dental laser safely hardens the sealant into place.

Do all kids need sealants?

Getting dental sealants is a choice between you and your child. As you can see, dental sealants certainly offer another great way to protect teeth and prevent decay. Of course, sealants should not be a replacement for good brushing and flossing. Your child’s oral routine should stay the same regardless of the preventive care they get from us. At-home care is just as important between routine dental visits; however, sealants can be a great option for kids who are at a high risk for developing cavities, but even kids with healthy smiles may be able to benefit.

Are you ready to find out if your child is a good candidate for dental sealants? If so, it’s time to schedule their routine checkup (if you haven’t already) and let our Bloomington, IN, general dentist know that you are interested in dental sealants for your child.