Dental sealants can play a critical role in children’s dental health. There is some confusion, however, about exactly what they are. Some parents don’t realize that there are critical differences between sealants and fillings.
How do Dental Sealants and Dental Fillings Differ?
Dental sealants and dental fillings are used on teeth but have different applications. Fillings repair a tooth after it starts decaying, whereas dental sealants can prevent tooth decay before it happens.
Most tooth decay is in the molars, those rear teeth used for grinding and chewing food. Molars have pits and grooves that trap food and bacteria, which can lead to cavities.
Dental sealants are a way to prevent this from happening. They are a thin coating used to seal the teeth. Studies show they can prevent eighty percent of cavities for two years after they are applied. They prevent fifty percent of cavities for up to for years.
School-aged kids who don’t have sealants have almost three times as many cavities than those kids who do.
Applying the sealants is quick and painless. At Dr. B. Pediatric Dentistry in Campbell CA, we view them as important as brushing in cavity prevention. Parents from San Jose, Santa Clara, and Los Gatos trust our pediatric and preventive care dentistry. Schedule an appointment for your child today!
Contact Dr. B Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Adolfo J Barrera, DDS:
408-871-2885
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
40 Jeffers Way
Campbell, California
95008