Dental Sealants for Kids in Clear Lake

• Sealants are an affordable preventive treatment and are typically covered under dental insurance.
• This resin barrier is meant to last for a very long time, though their durability will depend on a patient’s level of oral hygiene.
• Dental sealants prevent cavities from forming and protect your child’s teeth.
• Preventing decay will keep your child’s teeth healthy and help you avoid the expense of fillings and other restorative treatment.

Dental sealants are administered after a teeth cleaning to ensure that any bacteria, food particles, and other debris are removed from your child’s teeth before treatment. The process of applying a dental sealant is fast and non-invasive, so it’s appropriate for children of every age.
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First, your child’s tooth will be dried. The resin is then directly applied to your child’s tooth enamel and Dr. Brock will use a UV light to cure the sealant and bond it to the tooth. This process is repeated for each tooth that requires dental sealants. If you have further questions, contact our Clear Lake pediatric dental team today and we'll be happy to help.

Dental sealants are most effective when applied soon after your child’s permanent molars come in. Your child’s first set of permanent molars come in at around age 6 and then their second permanent molars come in at around age 12.
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Applying dental sealants soon after both of these molars come in offers the highest protection against cavities. Children ages 6-11 without dental sealants are significantly more likely to get cavities in these molars because they are harder to clean.
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There are certain cases in which a dentist may recommend that dental sealants also be applied to a child's baby molars, though it is less common. This may be warranted in cases where a child's baby molars have a significant amount of grooves in them.
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A large number of pits on the molars make cavities more likely. Applying dental sealants to these baby molars at our Clear Lake office will reduce plaque buildup and oral health problems even though they will eventually fall out naturally.

Dental sealants last for an average of 2-7 years. With proper oral care, they can last for much longer than this. However, dental sealants are prone to failing or breaking over time, which is why many dentists recommend having them reapplied every 2-4 years.
While sealants’ effectiveness decrease over time and they succumb to wear and tear, they offer additional protection for your teeth against cavities for many years.
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To ensure that your child’s dental sealants are still intact, make sure that you visit the dentist every 6 months for regular cleanings and checkups. Dr. Jason Brock in Clear Lake will examine all of the teeth, including the dental sealants, to check that they have not become damaged or worn down. 
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This is important to look out for because worn down dental sealants pose a risk of trapping bacteria underneath the sealant, which can lead to decay.

For the first 2 years after receiving dental sealants, you are protected against 80% of cavities. Within four years, you are still protected against 50% of cavities. This is excellent news for children who are prone to tooth decay.
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Given that children of the same age without dental sealants are three times as likely to have cavities than those with dental sealants, they are an innovation in preventative dentistry worth investing in.
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The procedure is painless, simple, cost-effective, and well-tolerated by children. Children who receive dental sealants are less likely to develop cavities which can lead to more extensive and expensive dental work later on. Children who maintain good oral health are less likely to miss school.
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As dental sealants can last for a significantly long time with proper oral hygiene, can be easily reapplied, and are not a big investment, it is much more beneficial to have dental sealants applied to your child’s permanent molars than it is to have no protection at all. 
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Contact us or schedule an appointment at Big Picture Pediatric Dentistry to give your child better protection against cavities today!