Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings applied usually to the hard-to-reach back teeth of children, which are often prone to decay. They’re most commonly placed on the permanent molars, which erupt at about 12 years of age, and although the concept seems logical, they’re not as popular as one might think. The technology has been around since the 1960s, yet fewer than a third of children in this country get them. This can perhaps be attributed to the fact that the existence of dental sealants isn’t common knowledge.
Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs in the back teeth and hermetically sealing them does seem to help prevent decay. A 2009 study by the Cochrane Collaboration, a group that evaluates medical research, found that 5- to 10-year-olds who used sealants had less than half the decay on biting surfaces five years after treatment than those without sealant whose sole means of preventing cavities was regular brushing.
Not everyone benefits from dental implants. After an examination, your dentist can determine if the shape and size of the pits and fissures on the biting surface of your children’s teeth warrant sealing. Those kids whose grooves are deep and narrow will have a more urgent need for dental sealants than those whose grooves are naturally shallow and rounded.
Sealants can last five to 10 years, and while some researchers have questioned the safety of having sealants in the mouth for this extended period of time, the FDA has determined that these compounds are indeed safe.
To discuss dental sealants for your child or any other dental-related subject, including dentures, dental implants and periodontal disease, call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment