Dental Sealants
Because children are still growing and have not mastered a dental routine yet, they are especially vulnerable to cavities.
Made of a thin plastic coating, dental sealants act as literal shields against decay-causing bacteria so that your child’s smile stays healthy.
Understanding How Dental Sealants Help
Prevent Cavities
By acting as a physical barrier, a dental sealant can protect teeth from bacteria and decay. They are most often applied to the molars, which are especially vulnerable.
Lower the Cost of Dental Care
The fewer cavities your child gets, the less you have to pay for restorative treatments like fillings and crowns.
Establish Long-Term Dental Health
Children do not always brush and floss their teeth properly, which makes it easier for cavities to develop. A little extra protection can lay the foundations for good oral health in the future.
Will Insurance Cover the Cost of Sealants?
In most cases, dental insurance will cover some if not all of the cost of dental sealants. But the treatment is worth investing in either way. Prevention can go a long way when it comes to protecting your smile, and dental sealants are a key part of that. By waiting for a problem to develop, you may actually end up paying more than you would for preventive treatment alone.
What Should You Expect at the Office?
In most cases, your doctor can place a dental sealant after a regular cleaning in thirty minutes or less. They will:
- Clean the tooth
- Apply etching gel to enamel to prepare the tooth and rinse it off
- Paint on liquid sealant
- Set sealant with curing light
The doctor will typically recommend waiting at least thirty minutes before eating or drinking to ensure that the sealants set completely.