Every February, your children’s dentist takes the time to celebrate National Children’s Dentistry Month. This event is intended to help parents stay aware of the proper at-home habits to teach their children brushing for the first time. However, this year your dentist wanted to illustrate the importance of dental sealants.
With dental sealants, your child has an extra layer of defense to protect them from tooth decay. Children are especially vulnerable to tooth decay, so getting dental sealants for them can make their early brushing habits easier and prevent cavities. Keep reading to learn when dental sealants are best for your child.
What are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are thin, plastic, coatings designed to go specifically on top of teeth. They’re commonly found in dental practices and clinics around the country. The main goal of dental sealants is to prevent pit and fissure decay, a common decay found on the chewing surfaces of teeth. These pits and grooves trap food and debris, making them perfect spots for decay to develop.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 80 to 90 percent cavities occur on the chewing surfaces of permanent teeth, while only 44 percent occur on baby teeth. These teeth are particularly vulnerable because they are more difficult for children to clean. However, adolescents and even adults can benefit from dental sealants if they’re at higher risk of tooth decay.
Which Teeth are Dental Sealants Best For?
Whether it’s their permanent teeth or baby teeth, if it has deep pits and grooves, the risk for decay goes up. That’s why your children’s dentist recommends dental sealants as a great solution for decay prevention. The more common teeth chosen include baby and permanent molars. Baby molars play a large role in holding space for permanent teeth, so keeping them free of cavities is important to prevent decay and eventually tooth loss.
While wisdom teeth are an ideal candidate for dental sealants, they often don’t stay in the mouth very long. This is because as humans evolved, they no longer needed the extra four teeth that wisdom teeth are. That means it’s more likely that your child will have them removed and why dental sealants are not typically recommended for them.
When Should My Child Get Dental Sealants?
With the help of dental sealants, you can protect your child’s early oral development. According to the American Dental Association, dental sealants can be placed as soon as permanent molars erupt (around 6 years of age.) This is followed by their second molars, which come erupt between 11 and 13 years old. Your children’s dentist recommends sealants for these as well.
Premolars erupts between the ages of 10 and 11 and will eventually replace your child’s baby molars. However, your dentist will only recommend dental sealants for them if they have particularly deep grooves.
Don’t wait to protect your child from tooth decay. Practice decay prevention by scheduling an appointment with your children’s dentist today!
About the Author
Dr. Dina H. Cocco earned her dental degree from the University of Michigan dental school in 1989. Since then, she’s worked hard to continue her education at the university and elsewhere, so she can provide her patients the latest developments in dental care. To learn more about her practice and dental sealant treatments, contact her at (734) 668-8636 or visit her website.