Dental Sealants in Brooklyn

Your toddler dentist may recommend dental sealants for kids to prevent cavities and keep young teeth strong. Dental sealants involve painting a thin plastic coating on the surface of your children’s teeth. It’s completely safe and very effective at preventing tooth decay.

This plastic coating prevents bacteria from harming the surface of the teeth, especially those hard-to-reach molars and pre-molars. These teeth are especially prone to decay because they’re the furthest teeth back in your child’s smallmouth. These teeth may be missed — or just not thoroughly cleaned — while brushing and flossing.

When to See the Best Dentist for Kids

Between the ages of six and 14, many children still need practice and instruction on proper brushing techniques and good dental habits. The best children’s dentist recommends the plastic coating because it bonds to the surface of these often grooved teeth, filling in any crevices or pits that can trap plaque and bacteria. This makes it more difficult for decay to set in.

These fissures can be smaller than a single bristle of a child’s toothbrush. Smoother surfaces provide easier cleaning during your children’s development. According to studies by the American Dental Association, the lack of grooves and pits protects and has even been shown to decrease the risk of decay by up to 80 percent.

The Process of Applying Dental Sealants for Kids

This simple, painless procedure requires no anesthesia, and it takes only a few minutes. As soon as a molar or pre-molar has erupted through the gums, your pediatric dentist can place dental sealants. Letting your child know the process and explaining what to expect often quiets any concerns, leading to greater cooperation.

Your Brooklyn dental team at Quentin Smile Dental provides a special needs pediatric dentist, for kids who otherwise may be too agitated by a dentist’s office. These dentists are trained in calming all kinds of children. The sealant process includes:

1. First, the best pediatric dentist cleans each tooth thoroughly in a child-friendly environment, using a paste and rotating brush.
2. He then dries each tooth and places an absorbent material around the tooth to keep it moisture-free.
3. Using a very mild acidic solution, your dentist coats each tooth to roughen the surface slightly, providing a better bonding exterior.
4. He rinses the solution from the teeth and re-dries them.
5. Using the dental sealant and a small brush, he paints the gel onto the sides and top of each molar and pre-molar.
6. The gel bonds to the tooth and hardens, often with the use of a hand-held curing light.

Benefits of Dental Sealants

Dental sealants provide several cost-effective benefits that contribute to your child’s overall dental health. The advantages of dental sealants include:

• No restrictions after the procedure regarding eating, drinking, or activities
• Making the back molars easier to clean by filling in and smoothing hard-to-reach grooves and pits
• An effective barrier against decay, when used in conjunction with proper dental care such as brushing, flossing, regular dental visits, and a healthy diet
• Many insurance companies cover the cost of dental sealants for kids under the age of 18
• Sealants are quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive
• The white or slightly tinted color blends well with your children’s teeth and may enhance their appearance.

Discussing Concerns with Your Pediatric Dentist

Dental sealants for kids are BPA-free, made without Bisphenol A. Understanding the process of thorough scrubbing and rinsing after sealants harden helps alleviate any concerns you may have moving forward. The benefits of enhanced protection — with a barrier against the damage plaque and acids can cause to your child’s teeth — usually circumvents other concerns.

An emergency dentist for kids usually considers whether your kids have dental sealants when treating sports injuries or other dental emergencies. Other questions may include the cost of dental sealants. They usually run between $30 and $40 per tooth. Most insurance companies cover this preventive measure as the cost of dental repairs due to decay is often significantly higher.

Dental sealants can last several years and maybe reapplied when the need arises. Protecting your children’s teeth with dental sealants for kids helps provide a solid base for good dental health throughout your children’s lives. Good dental habits help enhance many aspects of your children’s overall health and happiness.

Before & After GALLERY