We usually do not hesitate to do a little preventive maintenance on our cars. Why not do the same for our teeth? Atlantic Children & Family Dentistry knows how to give your child extra protection from harmful bacteria and cavities without costly dental work and constant trips to our office. We use a dental sealant to accomplish this goal.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the rear teeth. This coating provides protection for your child’s teeth that will prevent tooth decay. A dental sealant lasts for about ten years, depending on how well your child takes care of their teeth.
Dental sealants are very cost-effective, typically $30 to $40 a tooth. This may sound expensive, but the protection lasts about a decade, making it a worthwhile investment.
Who Benefits from a Dental Sealant the Most?
This procedure is most common for people who have not yet gotten cavities. Because of this, children benefit the most from having a dental sealant, as children with dental sealants are statistically less likely to develop cavities than children who do not have them.
If your child has cavities already, a dental sealant may hinder them from developing further, promoting their overall oral health. Also, if your child has substantially deep ridges in their teeth, a dental sealant will keep food and bacteria from hiding in those crevices.
How Do We Apply a Dental Sealant?
Getting sealants in Los Angeles, California, is a relatively simple, painless, and quick process, making it a child-friendly procedure. Our pediatric dentist and team perform this process only on the molars, as the front teeth are smooth and easily cleaned.
- First, we clean and dry your child’s teeth.
- We apply a gel to the teeth to prepare the bonding surfaces.
- We rinse and dry your child’s mouth again.
- We brush the sealant compound onto the teeth.
- Depending on the application, we may then use a bright light to help bond the sealant.
What Do Dental Sealants Do?
Some people see dental sealants as an unnecessary cosmetic procedure, but the truth is that dental sealants provide several benefits for adults and children alike:
- They keep food from lingering in the deep crevices of the teeth.
- They protect your teeth from harmful oral bacteria.
- They promote health by protecting you from infections caused by damaged teeth.
- They keep plaque from forming on the teeth.
- They prevent cavities and stop them from forming further.
Protect Yourself From Cavities
Cavities are the scourge of dental hygiene. At first, they are hard to detect, but leaving them untreated leads to tooth decay, causing sensitivity, pain, and even infection or discoloration. Children under the age of 12 without sealants are three times more likely to develop cavities than those with a dental sealant.
Combined with regular dental hygiene, a dental sealant is the ultimate preventive method for keeping cavities at bay. To set up an appointment for dental sealants with Dr. Jung Yoon Chang or Dr. Quy-Phung Phan, call Atlantic Children & Family Dentistry at 323-263-9600 and speak with a member of our team.