Sealants
A cavity in your child's mouth is most likely to form on the chewing surfaces of the rear teeth. Run your tongue over this part of your mouth to feel the reason: These surfaces are not as smooth as the rest of your teeth. They are instead packed with microscopic grooves known as "pits and fissures," which trap germs and food particles. A toothbrush's bristles can't always reach all the way into these dark, damp recesses. This produces the ideal environment for tooth decay.
A cavity in your child's mouth is most likely to form on the chewing surfaces of the rear teeth. Run your tongue over this part of your mouth to feel the reason: These surfaces are not as smooth as the rest of your teeth. They are instead packed with microscopic grooves known as "pits and fissures," which trap germs and food particles. A toothbrush's bristles can't always reach all the way into these dark, damp recesses. This produces the ideal environment for tooth decay.
Furthermore, a child's newly erupted permanent teeth are less decay-resistant than adult ones. The hard enamel covering that protects the teeth matures and strengthens. Fluoride, which is included in toothpaste and certain drinking water — as well as in dental treatments — helps build enamel, but it's challenging to get fluoride into those pits and cracks on a regular basis. Fortunately, there is an effective solution: dental sealants.
Dental sealants are transparent resin coatings that soften the back teeth' chewing surface, making them less resistant to decay. A sealed tooth is significantly less likely to develop a cavity, require more costly dental care in the future, or, most importantly, cause your kid discomfort.
How Sealants Are Placed
Consider a sealant to be a little plastic filling, but please tell your youngster that it does not "count" as having a cavity filled. Because tooth enamel has no nerves, applying a sealant is painless and does not usually need numbing injections. The tooth to be sealed is first inspected, and any minor decay identified is carefully removed. After that, the tooth will be cleaned and dried. The surface is then slightly roughened or "etched" with a solution to help the sealing substance adhere better. After that, the tooth is cleaned and dried again. The liquid sealant is then sprayed on the tooth and solidifies in approximately a minute, often with the assistance of a special curing light.
Regarding BPA: A 2012 research that was widely talked about in the media raised questions about the possibility that the quantities of the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), which is present in certain dental resins but not all, may be influenced by behavioral issues in children. The study's authors pointed out that although they had discovered a correlation, they had not established that the BPA in dental sealants is to blame for these issues. Dental restorative materials contain significantly less BPA than food and beverage packaging. Since then, both the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry have reiterated their support for using sealants.
Taking Care of Sealants
The same thorough dental hygiene you should apply to sealed and unsealed teeth. Your youngster should continue to regularly brush and floss their teeth as well as have expert cleanings on a regular basis. The sealants should last up to 10 years but checking for wear and tear is vital. Your youngster will gain from a preventative procedure during this period that has been shown to minimize decay by more than 70%.