Parents want to protect their children from anything that could harm them, from too much sugar to playing safely outside. You want to surround your children with layers of protection all of the time. One way that you may be able to protect the teeth of your children is by having sealants applied to their back molars. Are sealants a good idea for molars?
What Are Sealants?
Sealants have existed since the mid-to-late 1960s, but they did not become widely used until the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sealants were first used on adult teeth, but gradually, dentists began using them with children as well. That is because research studies found that if children have severe tooth decay in their baby teeth, the decay may cause issues with the permanent teeth as well. Permanent teeth may come in discolored or be smaller than they should be due to tooth decay.
Sealants are most often used with molars because those teeth are the most difficult to clean and more prone to cavities. Sealants create a barrier around the molar enamel, which means the bacteria that cause tooth decay cannot adhere to the surface of the tooth and cause problems.
Sealants are clear coatings made of resin or glass polymers that coat the molars for cavity prevention. Our dentist usually paints sealants onto the teeth and then hardens the sealant with a special light. Of course, once your child loses their baby molars, they will also lose the sealant that protected the tooth. Once the permanent molars erupt, you can have sealants applied to them as well.
What Should I Do?
If your child has already had dental caries or cavities in their teeth, especially in their molars, it may be time to think about sealants. You may also want to use sealants for the molars if you have a family history of cavities in the molars. If you are not sure whether you should have sealants applied to the teeth of your child, it is time to talk to a dentist. Give us a call now, and let us schedule an appointment for you.
Dental Blog | Dentist Menasha, WI | Mid Valley Dental, S.C. Michael J. Wockenfus, DDS created a blog to educate the community. It is your resource for all dentistry questions. Learn and read topics in the blog here! Mid Valley Dental, SC, 903 E. Airport Road, Menasha, WI 54952 | (920) 215-4160 | midvalleydental.com | 12/7/2024 | Page Phrases: dentist Menasha WI |
Parents want to protect their children from anything that could harm them, from too much sugar to playing safely outside. You want to surround your children with layers of protection all of the time. One way that you may be able to protect the teeth of your children is by having sealants applied to their back molars. Are sealants a good idea for molars?
