Your Dentist in Richmond Explains How Dental Sealants Protect Teeth

A typical activity for you and your family on a Sunday afternoon is to watch the Redskins play on TV. And on some occasions, you’ll take them south to FedEx Field to catch a home game. You let the children really enjoy themselves by eating candy, chili dogs, nachos and sodas, all of which they absolutely love. The problem is that this snack-food-bonanza leaves a bacteria trail that adds to some pre-existing problems. It turns out that your children haven’t maintained the best brushing practices, so they need to see a dentist in Richmond for dental sealants.

What is a Dental Sealant?

As its root ‘seal’ suggests, a dental sealant is a protector and defendant of your children’s teeth. In sealing the surface, it creates an impenetrable barrier for small food particles and cavity-causing bacteria, making it a valuable weapon in the war against tooth decay.

How is a Dental Sealant Applied?

The battle against bacteria is fought in the mouth and centers around food. After you eat, the leftover food particles breakdown and become harmful bacteria that attack your tooth, boring acidic, intrusive holes.

Because of the digging and mining of angry bacteria, special procedures must be followed when sealants are applied to ensure their effectiveness.

• Identification – Your children’s dentist will first identify and fill any spots of decay.
• Prepping – The next step is to apply a cleaning and etching solution. Approximately 15 seconds later the solution is rinsed off and the tooth dried.
• Coating – The teeth are then coated with the sealant, and allowed to dry and harden.

The application of sealant for kids is typically a fast, easy process, taking 10 to 45 minutes. This ultimately depends on the number of teeth needing a seal.

Why Do Kids Need Dental Sealants?

Although your children may appear to be brushing and flossing their teeth on a regular basis, they may not be doing it thoroughly. This allows the harmful bacteria to latch on and hide out in the little grooves in their teeth, possibly leading to cavities.

Sealants can work to stop any continued decay of the teeth. Studies show that they reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80%. Furthermore, in 2016 the Centers for Disease Control released a report on the importance of sealants for school-aged children, of which 43% of them ages 6-11 have.

At What Age Can Your Child Get Sealants?

Your children must be at least 6 yours of age (usually when the first molar appears) to get a sealant. They are available to adults, but it’s much better to catch any dental issues during childhood to prevent them from mushrooming into greater problems.

Meet with your dentist to determine if sealants for kids is the best option. An examination of your children’s teeth is the first step in developing the right plan of action.

About the Author

A native of Richmond, Dr. William W. Way received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Military Institute and doctoral degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, and the Richmond Dental Society. He practices at West Hampton Dentistry, and can be reached for more information through his website.