MARSHFIELD Dental Sealants

Protect Your Child From Cavities

MARSHFIELD Dental Sealants

Fighting back against cavities starts with proper preventive care. And with dental sealants from Dr. Julie Hantson at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry, you can eliminate your child’s risk of developing cavities, prevent tooth decay, and ensure their smile remains healthy. Learn more about sealants below, or contact us now for an appointment.

Understanding The Basics

How Do Dental Sealants Work?

Dental sealants consist of a clear, liquid dental resin that is applied directly to your child’s teeth. When it’s hardened using an ultraviolet (UV) light, the resin hardens into a durable, strong barrier that helps prevent cavities from forming on your child’s teeth.
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Essentially, dental sealants add an extra layer of protection onto your child’s enamel. They prevent the direct contact of oral bacteria, acid, and food particles with your child’s teeth. This, in turn, helps prevent the formation of cavities.
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Usually, dental sealants are only used on the rear teeth (molars and premolars). This is because the rear teeth are much more cavity-prone, as they usually have deeper pits, grooves, and other areas where food, bacteria, and acid can collect and cause decay. 

What To Expect From

The Treatment Process

Dental sealants can be applied as part of any regular six-month teeth cleaning at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry. After your child’s teeth have been cleaned, your hygienist will place a few cotton rolls to their mouth to absorb saliva, and keep the teeth dry.
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Then, each tooth is very slightly roughened with acid to prepare for the procedure, and the area is rinsed, and dried again. Then, the sealant will be applied in a liquid form, covering the entire tooth. Once the tooth has been covered, a UV light will be used to harden the resin. 
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This process will be repeated for each tooth that is getting treatment with sealants. It only takes a few minutes to seal each tooth, and the process is totally non-invasive, so your child will feel comfortable and safe throughout the whole procedure.

Are Dental Sealants Covered

By Insurance?

In most cases, dental sealants are covered for rear molars and premolars for kids between the ages of 8-15. However, this is not always the case. We recommend that you consult with your insurer before you decide to get dental sealants at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry to ensure your treatment will be covered.
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However, even if your child’s treatment isn’t covered by insurance, sealants are very affordable. In the long run, sealants can even save you time and money by preventing the need for fillings and other such tooth decay-related treatments in the future.

At what age are dental sealants

most effective

Dental sealants are most effective when they are applied as soon as the first and second permanent molars come in. The first permanent molars come in at around age 6 and the second permanent molars come in at around age 12.
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Children are more prone to developing cavities and tooth decay. The back molars specifically have more pits and grooves than the other teeth, making them harder to clean and easier to trap food particles and bacteria. By applying dental sealants as soon as these molars come in, your child reduces their risk of developing cavities. 
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Studies comparing children who have dental sealants with children of the same age without dental sealants have shown that children who do not receive dental sealants are three times as likely to develop cavities. Children with baby teeth that are more prone to decay due to having an increased amount of pits and fissures on the teeth may also be eligible for dental sealants.
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Dental sealants are a cost-effective, painless, and minimally invasive preventative tool that invests in your child’s oral health. Dental sealants can protect the teeth against most cavities for several years. Adults can also receive dental sealants but is better to have them applied early on for maximum protection.

Are Dental Sealants

safe?

Dental sealants are considered safe, but some parents are concerned about potential exposure to minuscule amounts of BPA in dental sealants. BPA, which is found in plastic, is linked with certain health risks in children and dental sealants contain trace amounts of BPA. 
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However, there have been no documented adverse health reactions in children as a result of dental sealants. Though it is a parent’s decision, the trace amounts of BPA found in dental sealants are very small and dissipate typically within 3 hours. BPA cannot be detected in the saliva within 24 hours of the treatment.
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The bigger concern with dental sealants would be if your child is allergic to materials in dental sealants, but this is rare. Discuss any allergies your child has with Dr. Julie Hantson before the treatment. It’s worth noting that the positive effects of dental sealants outweigh the small risk of exposure to trace amounts of BPA. 
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Sealants significantly reduce your child’s risk of developing cavities and receiving dental work to repair tooth decay means using materials that contain harsher chemicals than the BPA in dental sealants.

Why Does My Child

need dental sealants?

Dental sealants protect against 80% of cavities in the first 2 years after application and 50% of cavities in the first four years. Dental sealants are an effective and worthy investment in your child’s oral health because the procedure is very fast, painless, and affordable. 
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Even if your child practices good oral hygiene practices such as brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing each day, it is very difficult to thoroughly scrub the grooves on the rear molars. These grooves can trap food particles, leading to plaque buildup and causing bacteria to feed off of left behind sugars to produce acids that attack tooth enamel and lead to cavities. 
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Sealants create a smoother surface on these teeth to allow for a more thorough removal of food particles and bacteria. The sealant also acts as a protective barrier that does not allow acids or bacterial plaque to penetrate the enamel.

Protect Your Child’s Teeth With Dental Sealants 

Schedule Your Appointment Now

Ready to protect your child’s teeth with dental sealants? The team at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry is here to help. Give us a call at (781) 205-1124 or contact us online to set up an appointment for your little one now! Our team is always standing by to help your child get the treatment they need to keep their smile healthy.