Dental sealants for kids are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of children’s back teeth to prevent tooth decay. We recommend sealants as part of our family dentistry treatments in New Orleans.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States. In fact, children without sealants have almost three times more cavities in their first molars compared to those with sealants. As a parent in New Orleans, where many children struggle with dental health issues, protecting your child’s teeth early can save time, money, and painful dental experiences later.
While brushing and flossing form the foundation of good oral hygiene, adding sealants provides an extra layer of protection during those cavity-prone years when children might not have perfected their brushing technique.
Dental Sealants for Kids: How They Work and Why They Matter
The back teeth of your child have natural grooves and pits on their chewing surfaces that can be deeper than a single toothbrush bristle. These tiny crevices become perfect hiding spots for food particles and cavity-causing bacteria. This is exactly where dental sealants for kids shine brightest.
Sealants are made from a liquid resin material that flows into these grooves and hardens to form a protective shield. The results speak for themselves – according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sealants reduce cavity risk by up to 80% in the first two years after application. Even better, they continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years.
Timing matters tremendously with sealants. The most effective strategy is early application, as soon as those permanent molars make their appearance. This typically happens around age 6 for the first molars and around age 12 for the second molars.
How Do Sealants Prevent Cavities?
Cavities form when bacteria in the mouth feast on sugars from food and produce acids that attack tooth enamel. These attacks are particularly effective in the deep grooves of molars where food particles get trapped.
Dental sealants for kids work by creating a physical barrier that blocks food particles from getting stuck in tooth grooves. They prevent acid-producing bacteria from settling into these hard-to-clean areas while smoothing out the tooth surface, making it easier for toothbrush bristles to clean effectively. They also work alongside fluoride treatments to provide comprehensive protection.
Why Children Benefit Most
Children between the ages of 6 and 14 are particularly vulnerable to cavities. This period represents a cavity-prone window when newly erupted permanent teeth haven’t fully hardened, oral hygiene skills are still developing, and dietary habits often include more sugary snacks and drinks.
The benefits of dental sealants for kids extend beyond just preventing cavities. The CDC reports that children miss more than 51 million school hours each year due to dental problems. Sealants help keep kids in school and parents at work. There’s also significant cost savings. Each sealed tooth saves more than $11 in dental treatment costs. Treating a cavity costs much more than preventing one with a sealant.
By preventing painful cavities, sealants help children avoid negative dental experiences that could lead to lifelong dental anxiety. Every time a cavity is filled, some healthy tooth structure must be removed. Sealants help preserve natural teeth.
Are Sealants Safe and How Long Do They Last?
Dental sealants have been safely used for over four decades. Some parents worry about BPA in sealants, but the American Dental Association has confirmed that the trace amounts are minimal – much less than what children encounter in everyday items like store receipts and food packaging.
Allergic reactions to dental sealants are extremely rare. If your child has known allergies to dental materials, just let us know before the appointment.
With proper care, sealants typically last 5-10 years. We’ll check them during each regular dental visit and can quickly touch them up if we notice any wear or chipping. This ongoing maintenance ensures continuous protection through those cavity-prone childhood years.
Caring for Dental Sealants
Dental sealants for kids are strong but not indestructible. With proper care, they’ll continue protecting the molars for years to come.
We recommend six-month dental check-ups so we can clean your child’s teeth and inspect all sealants to make sure they’re still doing their job. If a sealant shows signs of wear or damage, we can repair it right then and there.
Help your sealants last longer by encouraging your child to avoid chewing ice, hard candy, or non-food items like pencils. These hard objects can crack or chip sealants, creating openings where bacteria could sneak in.
Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. For children under 3, use just a rice-sized smear; for older kids, a pea-sized amount is perfect. Many parents are surprised to learn that children need help brushing effectively until around age 7 or 8. Their hand coordination simply isn’t developed enough before then to reach all tooth surfaces properly.
Flossing is another skill that takes time to develop. Most children can start learning to floss around age 4-5, but they’ll need your help until about age 8-10. Make it fun by using floss picks designed for kids or turning it into a family activity where everyone flosses together.
What your child eats matters too. Limit sugary snacks and drinks, especially between meals when they do the most damage. When treats are enjoyed, having water afterward helps rinse away food particles and sugar.
Ready to Protect Your Child’s Teeth?
Our team at Canatella Dental loves nothing more than helping little smiles stay healthy from the very beginning. Ask us about dental sealants today in our New Orleans dental office. Schedule an appointment online or call 504-385-1092 today.