How Dental Sealants Help Prevent Cavities
A cavity can impact kids of all ages. From babies and toddlers to teens, children can suffer from tooth decay and this means toothaches and more. But we can help safeguard little smiles! In today’s blog, your team at Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda talks about preventing cavities with dental sealants in Dallas, TX.
The Causes of Toothaches
How does a cavity form, and how will dental sealants help prevent cavities? Tooth decay forms in little smiles when the outer enamel is weakened and eroded, exposing the sensitive inner structures of the tooth to bacteria. A cavity then forms, and will grow with time, so treatment is needed to avoid the risk of infection or even premature tooth loss, which itself is a major factor in the onset of misalignment. Factors behind tooth decay could include poor brushing and flossing habits, a diet high in sugar, and lack of professional cleanings. When your little one complains about a toothache, please bring them in right to discuss possible solutions, such as a filling. But even better, we could help prevent cavities with dental sealants.
Applying Dental Sealants
Dental sealants prevent cavities by covering the more vulnerable portions of the smile. For children, reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss is a difficult process, which means food and drink particles can remain trapped between the molars. Over time, this allows tooth decay to form between these teeth, causing pain and leading to a rise in infection risk. But with this treatment option, we can apply a thin acrylic layer to these rear teeth. We simply dry the teeth and apply the material, which takes seconds. Then to fully cure, children just need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour. The process only takes one visit to complete, and the layers can stay in place and secure for years to come, often as long as ten for some patients!
Other Ways to Avoid a Cavity
Our team can also offer other options to help prevent cavities. For example, we can apply fluoride to the teeth during their checkup and cleanings, which helps keep the outer enamel strong and free of enamel erosions. If the cavity is in the early stages, options like Silver Diamine Fluoride and Curodont could help halt decay and prevent the need of a filling.
If you have any questions about how we prevent cavities with dental sealants, or about our other treatment options for children, then contact our team today to learn more.
PDC Kids Wants to Prevent Tooth Decay
We want to help prevent tooth decay with our custom treatment options. To find out more about cavity prevention, then call Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX, today at (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Children's Dental Services