
Apr
Are you struggling to keep your children’s teeth free from cavities? Dr. Ryan Watkins from Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California, can help with dental sealants for kids. Sealants are special dental coatings placed over your children’s teeth to prevent plaque and bacteria from accumulating and causing cavities. Here’s what you should know about this treatment.
Decay is a common problem among children as they’re not always faithful to brushing and flossing their teeth. Infrequent brushing coupled with a passion for sweets puts kids at greater risk of cavities. A dental sealant is a liquid covering applied to your children’s teeth to combat cavities. When dry, this liquid forms an invisible barrier against plaque and bacteria to protect teeth from cavities. Sealants are used mainly on molars and premolars, which are more difficult for children to clean, making them more prone to cavities.
Dr. Watkins recommends that children receive sealants as soon as their back teeth come in. The sealants will start to work immediately to provide long-term protection for these teeth.
No! Teens and adults can also benefit from this treatment. If your teeth are free of decay and gum disease, you’re a good candidate for sealants to provide long-term protection against decay in the future.
Dr. Watkins will start with a dental cleaning to remove plaque, tartar, and surface stains from your teeth. We’ll dry your teeth and apply a special solution to “roughen” the chewing surfaces to help the sealant stick. Afterward, we’ll rinse and dry your teeth again. Next, we’ll paint the sealant on your back teeth, ensuring it fills all the grooves and crevices on the surfaces of your teeth. Once the sealant is in place, we’ll cure it with UV light to harden it in place. Your teeth now have a protective coating against cavities.
Sealants can last up to five years if you take good care of your teeth. Good brushing and flossing habits are key to keeping your sealants strong and healthy over the years. Dr. Watkins will inspect the sealants during routine checkups to ensure they work properly. Once sealants wear down, we can repeat the treatment so your teeth are never left without the necessary protection.
Sealants can protect your children’s teeth in those crucial years, between the ages of 6 and 14, when cavities are most prevalent. At this stage, most children are still learning good oral care habits and establishing their oral hygiene routine. Sealants are a quick, easy, and affordable way to keep your children’s teeth strong and healthy in their formative years.
Dreamtime Dentistry is your one-stop location for dental sealants for kids in Vista, CA. To schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Ryan Watkins at (760) 274-0993.