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42% OF CHILDREN<\/b> will have at least one cavity by age eleven. The main reasons are too many sugary snacks and drinks and poor oral hygiene. It might not seem like a priority to protect baby teeth from cavities if they\u2019re just going to be replaced by adult teeth, but childhood is a crucial time to develop good oral health habits. However, there\u2019s something more that can protect our kids\u2019 teeth from cavities, and that\u2019s dental sealants.<\/p>\nWhat Exactly Are Dental Sealants?<\/h3>\n
The chewing surfaces of molars have a lot of little hiding places where bacteria can grow and cause cavities. Sealants were first used in the \u201860s and have stuck around this long because they work. They get their name from the fact that they seal off the crevices in molars, reducing the risk of decay by as much as 80%.<\/strong><\/p>\n Kids without sealants are nearly three times more likely to get cavities.<\/strong> Even if they\u2019re good at brushing their teeth twice a day, they may not have the dexterity to do a thorough enough job on the chewing surfaces of their molars. With sealants, those parts of the teeth are protected.<\/p>\n Adding this protective layer to a child\u2019s teeth is quick and easy. We can do it within minutes in a regular visit.<\/strong> First, we give the surfaces of your child\u2019s teeth a nice polish and clean away any food debris, plaque, or tartar that may be there. Then, we isolate and dry each tooth to prepare for the sealant.<\/p>\n Next comes the bonding agent that will hold the sealant in place. We rinse that off and dry the tooth again, and all that\u2019s left is to paint the sealant material on<\/strong>! With the special curing light we use, it will harden quickly. After we give everything one final check, we\u2019ll declare it safe to chew on!<\/p>\n 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<\/strong>, because food and bacteria will never get the chance to settle into the crevices. But sealants aren\u2019t only for kids! If you\u2019d like to learn more, just ask.<\/p>\nHow We Apply Sealants<\/h3>\n
Who Can Get Sealants?<\/h3>\n