Dental Sealants

Pine Forest Family Dentistry strives to promote good dental health, starting at an early age, as early as a year. Teaching children to brush their teeth is just the first step to preventing tooth decay (cavities).

Children between the ages of 6 and 14 are at a higher risk of developing cavities, especially on the back teeth, where it is harder to keep clean. A child’s mouth is, of course, smaller, making it harder to reach those back teeth. Besides teaching good brushing techniques, the correct toothbrush size is extremely important.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests dental sealants for extra cavity prevention. Most dental insurance companies cover the cost of sealants for children under the age of 18. Sealants are inexpensive and relatively simple to apply.

The dentist will use a small brush to apply a coating to the nooks and crannies of the molars and premolars in the back of the mouth. The coating seals the teeth to prevent food and bacteria from building up in the grooves. Growing bacteria promotes tooth decay.

Preventing cavities also prevents the future expense and pain of fillings. Tooth decay needs to be removed as soon as possible and restored with a filling to prevent the decay from spreading even further. If allowed to spread, it will lead to possible pain or even tooth loss.

Make an appointment for your child today.