Does Dental Sealant Protection Outweigh Potential Risks?

Has your dentist recommended sealant for your child? Are you skeptical if the procedure is worth it?

Brushing teeth is as important for kids as it is for adults. The dental sealants are the best way of preventing your kids from getting cavities. They consist of a thin coating which is painted on teeth for protecting them from cavities.

What research shows?

A recent research shows that dental sealants help in preventing 80% of the cavities in for at least 2 years.  There are several benefits of the simple procedure which is quite inexpensive. It is a relatively painless procedure which may cost between 30 to 60 dollars.

The procedure will further continue to protect against at least 50% of cavities for up to three to four years. It is said that you can retain the sealants in mouth for at least nine years.

School children who don’t have sealants have three times more cavities than children with sealants.

The skinny on sealants

Tooth decay can interfere with lives of kids as they can interrupt with sleeping, eating, and other activities. Apart from preventing cavities, they also help in keeping the teeth intact.

Prevention is always better than cure. If you get the tooth grilled, filled, and restored, the natural structure is compromised. The sealants are way better than the dental procedures your child may go through due to tooth decay.

Long-term benefits

• With right application techniques, the sealants can last for a lifetime. However, in some cases they will need to be replaced after few years.
• As soon as your child begins teething molars and premolars, you can get the sealant applied. This happens at the age of 6, 12, and 18.
• However, the treatment should be done when the child is grownup enough to be able to hold the mouth open for few minutes.
• You can get an advice from your dentist at which age should your child get the sealant applied.

Even adults can be a good candidate for the treatment as their teeth are exposed to decay.