It’s important that your child brush and floss their smile every day to maintain their ideal oral health. However, some kids struggle to keep their teeth clean with proper brushing and flossing, especially when plaque and food particles stick in the tight spaces of their back teeth. Dr. Christa Spates may recommend dental sealants, which are thin coatings of dental resin applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars. We can use dental sealants to help prevent tooth decay by keeping plaque out of the back teeth.
Both children and teens can receive dental sealants for their adult premolars and molars, and it’s best to apply the sealants as soon as these teeth come in. The purpose of dental sealants is to provide protection for the teeth when children are prone to cavities, especially between the ages of six to 14. Adults can also receive sealants if their teeth have no decay or fillings. Certain situations can also call for dental sealants to be placed on baby teeth, especially if the back teeth of a child’s smile have deep grooves that are hard to clean. It’s important to keep baby teeth healthy because they are responsible for maintaining the correct spacing to help permanent teeth erupt properly.
Dental sealants are designed to last as long as 10 years, and our dentist can examine the quality of the dental sealants at each dental checkup to determine if they have any chips or wear that need correcting.
To schedule an appointment at Just Kidz Dentistry and learn more about dental sealants in Peoria, Illinois, we welcome you to call 309-690-3368 today!