Dental Sealants – Fort Mill, SC
Shielding Teeth Against Harmful Decay
Children need time to improve their oral hygiene habits. Brushing those hard-to-reach areas, like back teeth (molars and premolars) can be difficult, which means they’re often neglected. As a result, bacteria can penetrate the pits and grooves of the chewing surfaces, causing decay and cavities to form. However, there’s a way to prevent all of this with the help of our awesome team of dentists at Jasper Dentistry! With dental sealants, we can better shield your child’s teeth while the teeth mature and your child refines their brushing skills. Call us today to learn how this fast, preventive solution can help.
Why Choose Jasper Dentistry for Dental Sealants?
- Three Esteemed Female Dentists
- Family-Owned Dental Practice Serving Fort Mill for 30 Years
- Comfort-Focused Care for Patients of All Ages
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are made of a biocompatible material that is used to shield bacteria and food particles from penetrating enamel. They cover the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars since these teeth have various pits and small crevices, and it’s easy for debris to become trapped. This can cause dental decay and cavities to form over time if left untreated.
Since children often have a hard time reaching these teeth while brushing, they can remain unclean, increasing the risk of significant oral health problems.
The American Dental Association encourages parents to have dental sealants placed on their children’s teeth once their permanent molars erupt, between the ages of 5 and 7. Once their second set of back molars erupt, often between the ages of 11 and 14, sealants can then be applied to these teeth.
How Are Dental Sealants Placed?
The process of placing dental sealants is easy and completely painless, which means your child has nothing to worry about. During a dental checkup, our Jasper Dentistry team will apply the material to the chewing surfaces of back teeth after a thorough cleaning. This is a quick application that requires no anesthesia or sedation. We’ll then use a curing light to harden the sealant so that a firm barrier exists between the enamel and any potentially harmful particles.
Sealants can last up to a decade, but you can trust that we will check them at each appointment to ensure they are still in place.
Who Should Get Dental Sealants?
While it is true that all patients can benefit from receiving dental sealants, they’re predominantly used on younger patients who are still learning how to properly brush and care for their growing teeth.
The American Dental Association encourages parents to have dental sealants placed on their children’s teeth as soon as the permanent molars erupt.
Many parents wonder if they’re worth the investment. The truth is that not only are they highly effective in reducing cases of dental decay in young children, but they’re also covered by most dental insurance plans. This means that you’re unlikely to pay much if anything out of pocket for sealants.