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We discussed dental sealants earlier in the General Dentistry section, but they are especially valuable for children – so let’s focus on that. Dental sealants are one of the best preventive services you can choose for your child’s dental health. They have been shown to reduce the risk of molar cavities dramatically. Since kids (and even teens) often struggle with properly cleaning the deep grooves in their back teeth, sealants act as a safety net.
Why kids benefit from sealants: The chewing surfaces of our back teeth (molars and premolars) have pits and fissures – some so narrow that even a toothbrush bristle can’t get inside. Children’s newly erupted permanent molars (usually appearing around age 6 for first molars, and age 12 for second molars) are especially susceptible to getting decay in those grooves. We often say sealants are like “raincoats” for the teeth – they keep the germs and food out of those vulnerable crevices, so cavities can’t start there.
The CDC notes that children without sealants have almost three times more cavities in molars than those with sealants as reported here at cdc.gov. That’s huge! We want our young patients in Horsham and surrounding areas to be cavity-free, and sealants are a big ally in that mission.
Sealant procedure for kids: It’s quick, easy, and no discomfort – a big win for a child who might be nervous about drills or needles (none of which are needed for sealants).
We clean and isolate the tooth (usually a back molar). The tooth must be kept dry, so we use cotton rolls or a little “raincoat” for the tooth.
We apply a special gentle etching gel on the chewing surface for a few seconds. This just preps the enamel to bond with the sealant. After rinsing that off, we dry the tooth thoroughly.
We then paint on the liquid sealant material into the grooves. Kids often think this part is fun because we may say we’re painting their tooth or putting on “tooth nail polish.”
Using a blue curing light, we harden the sealant in seconds. It turns into a hard plastic-like coating.
We check the bite and that’s it! Sealant is done. It usually takes just a minute or two per tooth.
The sealant is tooth-colored or white, and thin, so it’s not really noticeable. Kids can eat right after (we might advise waiting for about 30 minutes just to let everything fully set and to avoid chipping it immediately on something extremely sticky, but generally it’s fine).
When do we place sealants? Typically, as soon as the first permanent molars come in (around age 6-7), we seal them. Then again for second molars around age 11-13. We can also seal premolars if they have deep grooves, or baby molars in younger kids who are cavity-prone. Even teens or adults without prior decay in a tooth can get sealants – but the earlier the better to protect from the get-go.
We often do sealants during a routine cleaning visit or a separate quick appointment. It’s so worth the small cost and time because it can spare your child from the experience of getting a filling, which is more involved.
Parents from Ambler and Horsham who have gotten sealants for their kids appreciate the peace of mind it provides. Of course, sealants don’t mean you stop brushing or skip checkups (we still need to make sure the sealants are intact and that other surfaces of the teeth are clean). But it’s a layer of protection that significantly stacks the odds in our favor against cavities.
Insurance often covers pediatric sealants at 100% as a preventive service, which is great. Even without insurance, they’re far less expensive than a filling. At Horsham Dental Care, we stand by preventive dentistry – doing little things now to avoid big problems later. Sealants are a shining example of that philosophy. If your child’s molars haven’t been sealed yet, let’s discuss it at your next visit. Together, we’ll safeguard those smiles.