Sealants

Teaching children the importance of brushing and flossing teeth is not always easy. A lot of children have lots of other topics on their minds at all times, making oral hygiene pretty low on their priority list.

Even when starting a good oral cleaning regimen at an early age, the task of brushing one’s teeth at a certain time is about as appealing to a child as going to bed when they are supposed to.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports benefits of dental sealants being used to help prevent cavities in children, and dental insurance companies typically cover sealants in patients up to the age of 18.

Children have a higher risk of developing cavities for several reasons. Their mouths are smaller, making it harder to get a toothbrush behind and all the way to the back. The difficulty in reaching all the teeth surfaces causes less than optimal cleaning and more plaque buildup, leading to more cavities.

When baby teeth are still present, the teeth themselves cause problems in cleaning because they are smaller and have many nooks and crannies. Those deep crevices are notorious for collecting food and debris.

Sealants are a simple and painless procedure that seals the crevices and teeth against collecting food, debris, and bacteria. By preventing these from being in contact with tooth enamel, tooth decay is avoided.

Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry offers dental sealants for pediatric patients in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.