Listen up, Cook and Kankakee County, By age eleven, 42% of children will have at least one cavity. Sugary snacks and drinks, coupled with poor oral hygiene, are the main reasons. Some parents may not understand the priority of protecting baby teeth from cavities if they will eventually be replaced with adult teeth, but good oral health habits are often formed during childhood. However, dental sealants can protect our kids' teeth from cavities.
What Exactly Are Dental Sealants?
Bacteria can grow on the chewing surfaces of molars in the little hiding places, which can grow and eventually cause cavities.
The risk of decay is reduced by as much as 80% when using sealants.
Your child's nearly three times more likely to get cavities without using sealants. Even if your child is good at brushing their teeth twice a day, they may not have the dexterity to do a thorough enough job on their molars' chewing surfaces. With sealants, those parts of the teeth are protected.
How Joyful Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Applies Sealants
Adding this protective layer to a child's teeth is quick and easy. At
Joyful Smiles Pediatric Dentistry,
We can do it within minutes during a regular visit. First, we give the surfaces of your child's teeth an excellent polish and clean away any food debris, plaque, or tartar that maybe there. Then, we isolate and dry each tooth to prepare for the sealant.
Next comes the bonding agent that will hold the sealant in place. We rinse that off and dry the tooth again, and
all that's left is to paint the sealant material on! With the special curing light we use, it will harden quickly. After we give everything one final check, we'll declare it safe to chew on!
Who Can Get Sealants?
We recommend that children get sealants as soon as their permanent molars start appearing. The first set of molars usually erupt around age 6 or 7.
The earlier they get sealants, the better off those teeth will be because food and bacteria will never get the chance to settle into the crevices. But sealants aren't only for kids! If you'd like to learn more, just ask.
We Believe Every Child's Smile Should Have the Best Protection Available
Your child has a special and unique smile, and we want to make sure that parents have the best tools to keep those joyful smiles healthy as they grow. Come to us with any questions you have about dental sealants or other cavity-fighting measures.
We're the most joyful place for your child's dental health, so make sure to use us! 