How and Why Dental Sealants Work

Posted March 31, 2017

The fight to prevent cavities isn’t one that children need to go through alone. Besides teaching them how to take good care of their teeth, you can also help children protect their young smiles by bringing them for regular visits to the dentist. Routine checkups and cleanings are as important for children as they are for adults, but your dentist can also help tip the balance in their favor through preventive treatments like dental sealants.

How They Work

When oral bacteria gather, they form a sticky biofilm known as plaque that clings to teeth and protects the bacteria. As the microbes feed on nutrients, they release harmful substances, like acids, that attack tooth enamel. Dental sealants are thin layers of biocompatible acrylic that your child’s dentist can paint onto the chewing surfaces of teeth, especially molars. The sealants provide an additional barrier between plaque and your child’s teeth, reducing the risk of acid attacks that lead to tooth decay and cavities.

What They Do

When teeth are subject to bacteria-made acids, they can recover by absorbing more minerals like calcium into the enamel to strengthen it. However, if enamel erosion occurs faster and more often than teeth can remineralize, then the enamel will become compromised and oral bacteria will be able to infect the tooth. Sealants slow the process of enamel erosion by making it harder for oral bacteria to collect between the crevices on teeth’s chewing surfaces. Best of all, sealants are biodegradable and will disappear on their own so your child doesn’t have to visit the dentist again to remove them.

Does Your Child Need Dental Sealants?

Find out if dental sealants can help protect your child’s smile by speaking with your dentist. To schedule an appointment, call Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880.