While regular brushing and flossing is critical to cavity prevention and overall oral health, even thorough and consistent brushing cannot always reach all the grooves and depressions in your teeth. Food particles often get caught in hard to reach places like the premolars and molars, leading to the development of cavities.
With prevention as a priority at DDC, we have found that helping patients stop cavities before they occur is not only the most cost effective approach to dentistry, but also the best approach to long-term oral health. Dental sealants provide protection by sealing off the grooves and depressions, keeping food particles from settling in and causing trouble. As a result, sealants serve as a proven barrier to help prevent cavities in children (and adults).
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children's cavities most commonly occur in places that sealants could have prevented. While sealants typically cost less than half the price of a filling, they are also likely to be covered by insurance.
Because teeth are most vulnerable to decay when they first come in, the American Dental Association recommends kids receive dental sealants as soon as their adult teeth erupt. However, sealants offer the same protection and cavity prevention for patients of all ages, including teens and adults.
Melding perfectly with our passion to create a relaxing dental experience, the application of dental sealants is easy and pain-free. The DDC team simply prepares the teeth, \"paints\" the sealant onto the tooth enamel, and the plastic resin bonds into the grooves and depressions as it quickly hardens. As a result, teeth are well protected against plaque, decay and resulting cavities. Sealants typically last for up to ten years with normal chewing before a reapplication may be needed. As part of our oral health process, the DDC team checks sealants to ensure all is well during regular dental visits.
The entire DDC team highly recommends sealants for children and adolescents to protect teeth and prevent cavities. Experience different* as you contact the DDC team today to schedule your child's sealant appointment.