Dental Sealants Help Lower The Risk Of A Cavity

Posted May 7, 2024

Our team can offer dental fillings to treat a cavity in only one visit. But what if we could help keep cavities at bay for kids of all ages? We can do that with our dental sealants. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about how we fight cavities with our dental sealants.

The Causes of a Cavity

Tooth decay can form in teeth in babies, toddlers, and kids of all ages. For babies and toddlers, this may be due to baby bottle tooth decay, when kids fall asleep or nap with a bottle or milk or juice, which exposes the teeth to sugars that cause plaque buildup, weakening and eroding enamel. As kids grow older, a diet high in sugar and improper or infrequent brushing and flossing can be factors. When cavities form, your little one could experience tooth sensitivity and toothaches. Treatment is crucial, even in baby teeth, as to avoid premature tooth loss and an increased risk of misalignment as they grow. But our team can also offer dental sealants to help limit the risk of future cavities.

Placing Dental Sealants

For most kids, reaching the rear teeth when brushing and flossing is difficult, so food and drink particles tend to become trapped here, increasing the risk of cavities. Which is why we offer dental sealants, which are a thin layer of acrylic we apply to these molars. This covers the teeth so food and drink particles cannot become trapped here, so the risk of cavities is significantly lower. The application takes only a few seconds, and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes. These layers can stay in place for up to ten years and wear away gradually with time, clinging the longest to the more vulnerable portions of the tooth structure.

Treatment

What if a cavity has already formed? Then we can offer treatment with a filling, using a lifelike composite resin that blends with the teeth better than metal restorations. These fillings take one visit to place and stop the decay, so your child gets relief from discomfort and enjoys repair that can last for years. If you have any questions about how our team will plan and implement treatment to address a cavity, or the care we have to prevent them, then contact our team today to learn more.

Do You Have Questions About Preventing and Treating Tooth Decay?

We want to help your little one enjoy good oral health! To learn more about our approach to keeping your little one free of discomfort and cavities, then please contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880. We want to help your kids enjoy optimal oral health!