While children are less likely than adults to experience periodontal (gum) disease, the same can’t be said for tooth decay. One aggressive form of decay called early childhood caries (ECC) can have a profound effect on a child’s dental development and future health.
That’s why dentists who treat young children often use a variety of preventive measures to reduce the risk of ECC and other dental diseases. One popular method is dental sealants, dental material coatings applied to the biting surfaces of teeth that fill in the naturally occurring pits and crevices. These areas are highly susceptible to plaque formation, a bacterial biofilm of food particles that tends to accumulate on teeth. It’s the bacteria that live in plaque that are most responsible for the formation of tooth decay.
Roughly one third of children between the ages of 6 and 11 have received some form of dental sealant. It’s a quick and painless procedure applied during a routine office visit. The dentist brushes the sealant in liquid form on the teeth, and then hardens it with a special curing light. It’s common for children to begin obtaining sealant protection as their molars begin to come in.
With their increased popularity among dentists, researchers have conducted a number of studies to see whether dental sealants have a measurable effect reducing tooth decay. After reviewing the cases of thousands of children over several years, many of these studies seemed to show that children who didn’t receive sealants were more than twice as likely to get cavities as children who did.
As evidence continues to mount for dental sealants’ effectiveness protecting young children from decay, both the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry now recommend it for all children. Not only can sealants help preserve children’s teeth now, but they can reduce future costs for dental treatment that results from tooth decay.
If you would like more information on children’s dental sealants and other decay prevention measures, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
