How Dental Sealants Offer Cavity-Protection
Cavities can form in your child’s smile and without treatment, leading to tooth loss and misalignment. But we can not only treat cavities, but offer treatments designed to prevent them from occurring in the first place. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about preventing cavities with dental sealants.
Tooth Decay and the Link to Tooth Loss
A cavity forms when oral bacteria can bypass the protective layer of enamel and reach the sensitive inner dentin, forming decay that will spread throughout the tooth unless treated. Eventually, this can mean an infection that could lead to the premature loss of baby teeth and then increases the risk of misalignment, as the path of eruption for premature teeth is alerted. Cavities could be caused by poor brushing and flossing habits, a diet high in sugar and starch, and infrequent visits for checkups and cleanings. Children may report tooth sensitivity when they eat or drink, or experience toothaches. Remember, treatment is necessary even for baby teeth as they could fall out months or even years after the decay forms, leaving the smile at risk for infection and premature tooth loss.
Placing Dental Sealants
Even when kids can brush and floss on their own, they may have trouble reaching the rear teeth. Particles of sugar and starch could remain trapped between these rear molars, and tooth decay could form between them. But with dental sealants, we will clean and dry the teeth before we apply the acrylic layers directly to them. Kids then need it avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes as the area cures. The sealants prevent food and drink particles from becoming caught between the teeth and lower the risk of cavities in the more vulnerable parts of their smiles. The sealants can stay in place for up to ten years, gradually wearing away on their own. They tend to cling the longest to the more vulnerable portions of the teeth.
Other Preventive Steps
Our team could also recommend other preventive treatments to lower the risk of cavities in little smiles. For example, our team could apply fluoride to the teeth during checkup visits in a varnish form, which strengthens the weakened parts of the enamel to lower the risk of cavities. We can also clean the teeth, removing all plaque and tartar buildup before it can weaken and erode the preventive layers of outer enamel. If you have any questions about how we help treat issues like tooth decay and help kids avoid them completely, then contact our team today.
Schedule Your Child’s Next Dental Appointment Today!
We want to help your children enjoy strong smiles and avoid the onset of tooth decay. To learn more about how we fight the onset of tooth decay, then please contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Preventive Treatments