Dental Sealants: Reduce The Risk Of Cavities In Your Kid’s Mouth

Not sure if dental sealants from Big Picture Pediatric Dentistry are right for your child? Sealants are a great way to prevent tooth decay, but you may have questions about how they work, and whether or not your child needs them. In this blog, we’ll discuss everything you need to know.

Explaining Dental Sealants – An Overview Of The Basics 

As the name suggests, dental sealants “seal” your child’s tooth. This is done using a special type of liquid dental resin, which is applied to the tooth as a liquid. UV light is used to harden this resin, which forms a strong barrier.

This barrier stops the tooth from directly contacting bacteria, plaque, food particles, and acid. Because of this, dental sealants completely eliminate the risk of cavities. 

They are usually used to treat the rear molars, since these teeth have a large surface area as well as natural pits and grooves that tend to “trap” food and bacteria and lead to cavities. However, they can be used on other teeth if Dr. Brock believes this is necessary. 

Understanding The Dental Sealant Treatment Process

Dental sealant placement takes only a few minutes. It’s often done after a routine checkup at Big Picture Pediatric Dentistry. To begin the procedure, Dr. Brock will use a gentle acid to roughen the surface of the teeth that are getting sealants.

Then, he will “paint” the liquid sealant resin onto the teeth. Once the entire tooth has been covered, Dr. Brock will shine a UV light onto the tooth. This causes the resin to react and harden into a sturdy, transparent barrier.

This process will be repeated for each tooth. Then, you and your child will be sent home. You don’t need to do anything special after treatment. Your child can eat and get back to their day-to-day routine immediately. 

When Should My Child Get Sealants?

At Big Picture Pediatric Dentistry, we typically recommend sealants for all kids. They’re much cheaper than fillings or crowns to treat tooth decay, so they are a great investment in your child’s oral health. 

Sealants are usually applied twice during childhood. Dr. Brock will recommend sealants for your child’s first set of rear adult molars, which usually come in at about the age of 6. Then, he will recommend another layer of sealants when their last set of adult molars come in at the age of about 12. 

Are Sealants Covered By Dental Insurance?

Yes. Almost all dental insurance policies will cover at least part of the cost of dental sealants as part of your child’s preventive care coverage. Your policy may vary, though, so we recommend consulting with your insurer to confirm your coverage.

Get The Preventive Care Your Child Needs In Houston – Call Today!

At Big Picture Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Jason Brock is dedicated to keeping little smiles healthy. If your child needs a checkup or you think they could benefit from dental sealants, don’t wait. Contact us online or call our team at (281) 461-7470 to schedule an appointment. We serve Clear Lake, Webster, League City, Friendswood, and patients throughout many other Houston communities.