Sealants are Critical to Your Child’s Oral Health

An important aspect of oral health is preventing complications before they even start. Dental sealants are now a widely used preventative procedure for children to prevent the development of cavities. As a popular aspect of children’s dentistry in Buffalo Grove, we provide this service to our young patients to help protect their teeth from tooth decay. Using a safe, durable, and effective material, we add an extra layer of protection to teeth that are prone to cavities, such as the molars. The use of the protective barrier is proven to reduce the occurrence of cavities in children to promote a child’s oral health.

Benefits of Dental Sealants for Children

The protective barrier we apply to children’s teeth is made from a safe plastic material that’s often clear or matches the color of enamel, so we’re able to protect the teeth without a highly visible material. We apply the layer of protection to areas of the teeth that are prone to cavities, such as the crevices of the back molars. By protecting the cavity-prone areas, we create a barrier to seal out food and bacteria that’s often difficult to remove from these areas with brushing and flossing. With the crevices are sealed, food and bacteria will no longer build up, greatly reducing the risk for tooth decay.

While the barrier is often applied on children, it can be used on anyone, no matter their age. However, we typically apply the barrier once a child has reached the cavity-prone years, which is about the age of 7. Once applied, the sealants will actively work to protect the teeth, however, while they are durable, they aren’t indestructible. Your child will need to maintain proper oral hygiene and avoid biting hard objects. By doing so, the barrier will last longer. We will check the function of the barrier at each dental appointment to ensure it’s protecting the teeth just as it should. If they have become damaged, we can easily replace the barrier to restore protection.

Receiving Dental Sealants

We understand that children often feel uncomfortable about dental procedures, which is why we make the procedure as simple and stress-free as possible. The completely noninvasive treatment involves cleaning, conditioning, and drying the tooth that will be protected. Then, we apply the barrier material to the crevices and use a special light to quickly harden the material. There is no pain, discomfort, or recovery time.

Since the protective barrier is considered to be a preventative treatment, most dental insurances cover the treatment, but there may be age and tooth limitations. Nonetheless, it’s a simple and easy procedure to protect your child’s smile as they age.

We make your child’s oral health our top priority, which is why we offer the preventative care they need for an amazing smile. With the use of dental sealants in Buffalo Grove, we will protect your child’s teeth from damage before it even starts.

Let us help create a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Call us today at (847) 607-6532 to schedule an appointment.