One of the most common oral health problems children will deal with is cavities. Getting children to brush their teeth can be a challenge, not to mention the sugary juices and cereals that are constantly marketed toward them. Sometimes, it even seems like tooth decay is inevitable no matter how thorough your child is with their dental hygiene.
Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be the case. If you live near Hillsboro, OR, dental sealants from Infinity Dental Care could be just the thing to keep your little one’s smile safe. If you want to learn more, make an appointment with us and we’ll be happy to tell you what this procedure can do!
For a variety of reasons, children are at greater risk of developing cavities than teens and adults. For one, their enamel is still underdeveloped; it’s thinner than on adult teeth, meaning that even mild decay can lead to serious cavities. Children also tend to have problems brushing their teeth. Many kids lack the patience to brush thoroughly, and their fine motor skills are lacking in comparison to an adult’s.
Dental sealants have been demonstrated to be 80% effective at preventing cavities over 3 years, which makes them an effective way to protect the teeth of at-risk children.
Tooth decay is typically a consequence of bacterial infection in the mouth. These bacteria consume simple sugars and secrete acids—acids that can gradually wear away at the enamel. Over time, this can create deep pits in the tooth.
Dental sealants are constructed from a biocompatible plastic and are designed to be brushed onto the teeth. This substance is resistant to acid erosion, which makes them an effective countermeasure against cavities.
The process of applying dental sealants is easy, painless, and takes only moments. After a routine cleaning the plastic can be brushed onto the back molars, which are the teeth most susceptible to decay. Particular attention is paid to the pit of the molars where the most food tends to collect. A specialized light will then be used to harden the sealant into place.
The results should be completely invisible and comfortable for your child. They’re one of the easiest and most effective ways of repairing cavities, meaning that there’s very little standing between your child and a cavity-free life! If that sounds appealing, make an appointment with us today and we’ll be happy to show you what this treatment can do firsthand.