Discover the benefits of getting dental sealants for your little one.

The last thing you want your child to deal with are cavities. That’s why you make sure they brush and floss their teeth everyday and visit their Marion, AR, family dentist Dr. Wayne Cook every six months for routine checkups and cleanings. Of course, we also know that sugar plays a major factor in the formation of cavities, so you’ll want to limit the amount of sugar your child enjoys. Of course, even with these measurements in place you may want to take it just one step further and have dental sealants placed.

What are dental sealants?

The chewing surfaces of your back teeth are full of ridges and crannies, which can be challenging to brush and clean properly. This can be particularly challenging for children. As a result, these tend to be the teeth that develop cavities first because bacteria can so easily get trapped between these little grooves.

One of the best ways to prevent cavities from forming on the chewing surfaces of your child’s molars is to place dental sealants over them. Sealants are tooth-colored, medical-grade plastic coatings that are painted over the tooth and then hardened into place to provide a smooth surface to make it a less hospitable environment for bacteria.

How are dental sealants placed?

We know it isn’t always easy to get your child into the dentist’s office but your Marion, AR, family dentist is here to tell you that getting dental sealants is easy and completely painless. Placing sealants only takes a few minutes and it could prevent your child from needing to come in more often for dental fillings or other expensive dental treatments.

We will first clean the teeth and then apply an acid solution over the chewing surfaces to roughen them (this will make it easier for the material to stick to the tooth when it’s applied) before removing the solution and applying the plastic coating. Once the sealant is in place, a dental light will be directed over the tooth to seal the material to the tooth. It’s that simple.

How long do dental sealants last?

With the proper dental care in place, sealants can last for many years. If a crack occurs in the sealant, our family dentist can easily replace it during your child’s six-month checkup.

If you think your child could benefit from getting dental sealants in Marion, AR, then it’s time to give us a call and let us know. We would be happy to place them during your child’s upcoming dental cleaning.