Your Child And Dental Sealants

OK, OK…  THE TOPIC OF “DENTAL SEALANTS” IS ABOUT AS EXCITING AS IT SOUNDS—but don’t let the boring name fool you! This quick procedure is one of the simplest ways to help prevent cavities and tooth decay.

Our dentists recommend using sealants as preventive dental care for most children. Looking at your children’s teeth you can see small depressions and grooves, typically just because they have smaller teeth than we do. These small grooves make it harder to properly clean them using brushing alone. Sealants can create protection in these small depressions and grooves, which helps keep plaque from forming in the small crevices and prevents cavities from forming. Even though it’s ideal to get sealants as a child, adults are also often good candidates for dental sealants.

Sealants are applied during a very short visit here at our office. After your teeth are cleaned and prepped, we paint a simple sealing solution directly on tooth surfaces. Using a curing light, we can harden the sealant quickly, allowing you to be on your way in just a few minutes. There is no need to wait to eat or drink. Routine dental checkups will allow Drs. Schwartzman, Tabata, and Durward to make sure the sealants are kept in good condition.

Some insurance companies cover sealants, and the procedure can last about 10 years—making one application last from childhood, well into adulthood. To see if it’s the right time to get sealants for your children or yourself, just ask us using our contact form. Or, you can always send us a message on Twitter or on our Facebook site with your questions, or give us a call here at our Vancouver, British Colombia practice at 604.266.5313.