With about 90% of Americans having at least one cavity by their 21st birthday, it’s not surprising that tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases in the U.S. If that isn’t alarming enough, more than 80% of cavities that develop in children appear on the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars. Don’t worry though – there is an answer. Thanks to dental sealants in Nashua, NH, our pediatric dentist can proactively protect your child’s teeth from cavities. Keep reading to learn more about this cavity-preventing treatment or get in touch with our team to schedule an appointment!
In short, dental sealants are a clear, plastic compound. When applied to your child’s teeth, it acts as a protective coating to keep food and bacteria from burrowing into the nooks and crannies. As a result, the chewing surfaces of their teeth are significantly less likely to develop cavities.
Children need some time (and motivation) to perfect their dental hygiene routine. In the meantime, dental sealants can prevent cavities from ruining the look and function of their smile. Typically, it’s best to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentist in Nashua when their first set of molars come in (around age six). Throughout the years, they’ll monitor the sealants at each six-month dental checkup and cleaning.
Since placing dental sealants only takes about 30 minutes, the process can be completed during your child’s routine checkup and cleaning. The first step is painting a thin layer onto the surfaces of your child’s teeth. From there, our children’s dentist in Nashua will use a low-heat curing light to solidify the material in place. After that, the dental sealants will be set, protecting your child’s smile from cavities.
Dental sealants provide children of all ages with a number of benefits, including:
Healthy teeth help your child smile confidently, bite effectively, and speak clearly. To help keep them decay-free, schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentist in Nashua today!
