Dental Sealants for Kids: What You Need to Know

As a parent, you want to do all you can to keep your child’s teeth safe from cavities. A great way to do that is by giving your child some extra layer of protection by using dental sealants. Dental sealants are an easy and painless option—no needles or anesthesia needed! They offer an added layer of defense against tooth decay, particularly for those tricky molars that are tough to clean. So, let’s find out more about dental sealants and how they can help keep your child’s smile healthy and strong.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are a thin, protective coating that gets put on the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth, which are the molars. These teeth have tiny grooves and pits that can trap food particles and bacteria pretty easily, which makes them more prone to cavities. Sealants help by filling in those deep grooves, creating a smooth surface, which not only makes it easier to clean but also helps prevent decay.

There are two types of dental sealants: resin-based and glass ionomer. The resin-based sealants are made from a tooth-colored composite resin. They’re super durable and can last for quite a few years. The glass ionomer, on the other hand, has glass particles mixed with an acid that gradually releases fluoride over time. This sealant material is less sensitive to moisture, but it might not last as long as the resin-based options.

When Should Kids Get Dental Sealants?

It’s a good idea for kids to get dental sealants when their permanent molars begin to come in, typically around six or seven years old. These first molars, which we often refer to as “6-year molars,” are pretty prone to cavities. That’s mainly because their deep grooves can easily trap food and bacteria. Applying sealants on those teeth early can help protect them before any decay starts.

The second set of molars, often called “12-year molars,” usually show up when kids are around 11 to 13 years old. It’s really important to apply sealants on these teeth as well since they also come with a risk for cavities. Sometimes, dental sealants may even be recommended for baby teeth, especially if they have deep grooves or pitted areas that make them more prone to decay. 

Getting dental sealants at the right time can seriously boost your child’s oral health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sealants can prevent up to 80% of cavities in the first couple of years. And can continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years. Applying sealants early, particularly when your child’s permanent molars first arrive, can help protect their permanent teeth during those most cavity-prone years. This simple preventive measure can benefit your child’s dental health and help you feel more at ease.

The Dental Sealant Procedure: How Are They Applied?

Applying dental sealants is a fast, easy, and painless process that can be done during your regular dental visit. Here’s how the process works:

• Cleaning the Teeth: We start off by making sure to clean your child’s teeth really well. We get rid of any food bits or plaque that may be hanging around on the surface. This makes sure that the sealant bonds properly to the tooth.
• Preparing the Tooth: After that, we put a special solution on the chewing surface of the tooth to make sure the sealant sticks well. After a few seconds, we rinse off the solution and make sure the tooth is all dried up.
• Applying the Sealant: Next, we’ll apply the liquid sealant right onto the surface of the tooth. It seeps into the grooves and pits, forming a protective layer.
• Hardening the Sealant: To harden the sealant, we use a special curing light. In just a few seconds, the sealant creates a solid, protective layer over the tooth.

The entire procedure usually takes just a few minutes per tooth and is completely comfortable for your child. 

How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?

If you take good care of them, dental sealants can last for as long as five to ten years. Here are some key factors that affect how long dental sealants last:

• Oral Hygiene: Keeping up with good brushing and flossing habits is really important for making sure sealants stay in great condition. Keeping up with good dental hygiene helps your child lower the chances of plaque buildup, which can weaken the sealants. Keeping things clean is a great way to look after both the sealants and the teeth underneath, helping to make sure they stay cavity-free for a long time.
• Chewing Habits: Kids who habitually chew on hard things like ice, pencils, or their nails may wear down the sealants faster. These habits can put unnecessary pressure on the teeth, leading to the protective sealants chipping or breaking down as time goes on. Encouraging your child to stop chewing on things that aren’t food can help keep their sealants in good shape for longer.
• Child’s Diet: Eating a lot of sugary or sticky foods can speed up the wear on sealants. Candy, gummy snacks, and sugary drinks can stick to the sealant’s surface, which can lead to it breaking down more easily. Acidic foods and drinks can also speed up the erosion of sealants. Cutting back on these foods can help keep your child’s sealant and overall dental health in good shape.
• Tooth Grinding: Kids who grind their teeth, a condition called bruxism, put a lot of pressure on their teeth, which can make the sealants wear down more quickly. If your child is grinding their teeth, particularly at night, it might be a good idea to discuss with us about potential remedies. A night guard could help protect their teeth and sealants.
• Regular Dental Visits: Regular dental checkups are key for keeping an eye on how the tooth sealants are doing. During these visits, we can look for any signs of wear or damage. If the sealants are showing signs of wear, we can definitely reapply them to keep everything protected.

With proper care, dental sealants can last for years, giving your child an extra defense against cavities during their most cavity-prone years.

Are Dental Sealants Safe for Kids?

Absolutely, dental sealants are totally safe for kids! They’ve been around for decades as a preventive treatment and are a great way to help protect teeth from cavities. They are widely recommended by pediatric dentists. They are even recognized by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) for being safe and beneficial. While it’s true that dental sealants have a small amount of BPA, the amount is so low that it doesn’t pose any risk to your child’s health.

Can Sealants Be Placed Over Cavities?

Yes, sealants can sometimes be placed over very small cavities or areas of early tooth decay. If a cavity is just starting out and hasn’t made a big hole in the tooth yet, using a sealant can help keep the decay from spreading. However, sealants work best when they are applied to healthy teeth that are cavity-free. For larger cavities, we’ll need to clean out the decay first and possibly place a filling before applying a sealant.

Do Dental Sealants Replace Brushing and Flossing?

No, dental sealants aren’t a substitute for brushing and flossing. Sealants are a great way to add some extra protection against cavities by covering those grooves and pits in your child’s back teeth. But remember, they’re just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to a full oral hygiene routine. It’s really important for your child to brush their teeth twice a day and floss every day. This helps get rid of plaque and food particles from spots that sealants can’t reach, like between the teeth and along the gumline.

Sealants work best when you combine them with regular brushing, flossing, and those routine trips to the pediatric dentist. These habits work together to keep your child’s teeth healthy and strong for years to come.

Fluoride vs. Dental Sealants

Both fluoride treatments and dental sealants are great preventive measures against tooth decay, but they work in different ways.

• Fluoride is a mineral that’s great for strengthening tooth enamel and can even help reverse early signs of tooth decay. It does a great job of reinforcing the tooth surface and is a key part of every dental checkup. Fluoride helps to remineralize weak spots on teeth and makes them more resistant to acid from bacteria and sugary foods.
• Dental Sealants, on the other hand, provide a physical barrier that covers the deep grooves and pits of molars. This helps keep food particles and plaque from getting trapped. By filling in these grooves, sealants make it harder for cavity-causing bacteria to hide. Unlike fluoride, which strengthens the entire tooth, sealants only protect the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.

It turns out that using fluoride treatments along with dental sealants is the most effective way to protect against cavities. A study by the ADA found that kids who got both fluoride treatments and dental sealants were 73% less likely to get cavities compared to those who only got fluoride treatment.
So, we recommend using both fluoride treatments and dental sealants as part of your child’s preventive dental care. They work hand in hand to provide a complete way to keep your child’s teeth safe, helping them steer clear of cavities and enjoy a healthy, bright smile.

Why Are Dental Sealants Important?

Dental sealants are a great way to help prevent cavities, especially when it comes to kids. According to the CDC, kids between six and eleven who don’t have sealants are almost three times more likely to get cavities in their molars compared to those who do have sealants. This is because molars are particularly prone to cavities since kids find it difficult to clean them properly. Even with regular brushing and flossing, the toothbrush doesn’t always reach those tricky deep surfaces. That’s why sealants are such a great option! By applying sealants to your child’s molars, you can significantly cut down the risk of cavities, which means they’ll have healthier teeth as they grow up.

Sealants aren’t just great at preventing cavities; they can also save you both time and money down the line. The CDC estimates that applying sealants could prevent over 3 million cavities every year, saving families up to $300 million on dental treatments! Since sealants are good at stopping cavities before they start, you can avoid invasive treatments like fillings, crowns, or tooth extractions. A win-win for everyone involved!

Our mission at Children’s Dentistry of Knoxville is to help your child achieve and maintain a beautiful smile for the rest of their lives. Dental sealants and other forms of preventative care can shield your child’s teeth from decay and promote good oral health for years to come. Make an appointment with us and take immediate action to safeguard your child’s smile. Let us help build your child’s confidence with a bright smile.