Dental sealants are a fast, affordable, and highly effective way to prevent cavities in your little one’s teeth. In this procedure, Dr. Shwetha Rai will apply a thin coating of transparent resin to your child’s teeth, then harden it with a special light. Your back teeth have deep grooves that help you grind food when you chew, and food and bacteria can become trapped in these grooves leading to tooth decay. Placing a sealant on the molars, creates This seals the treated teeth, creating a barrier that prevents food particles, bacteria, and acid from contacting packing into the grooves of the enamel directly.
This barrier helps reduce the risk of cavity formation dramatically, making sealants an excellent way to prevent tooth decay. Learn more about the benefits of dental sealants in the Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church areas of Virginia by scheduling a consultation at Shirlington Pediatric Dentistry today.
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It usually takes just a few minutes to treat each tooth, making dental sealants a fast and convenient way to help combat cavity formation.
There are no drills or shots involved with pediatric dental sealants. This makes it a great option for kids who may be nervous about dental care.
Sealants protect against up to 80% of cavities for two years, and up to 50% of cavities for 4-5 years. With pediatric dental sealants, your little one will get protection that’s meant to last.
To begin the process, Dr. Rai will clean your child’s teeth. Then, she’ll apply a gentle acid to each tooth that’s getting sealant treatment. This roughens the surface very slightly, which helps the resin hold onto each tooth.
After preparing their teeth, Dr. Rai will “paint” liquid dental resin onto your child’s tooth using a special brush. She will coat the tooth evenly to ensure that it’s fully protected from decay.
Once the resin is in place, Dr. Rai will use a UV light to activate the dental resin, transforming it from a liquid to a solid. This seals the tooth and provides powerful protection against cavities. This process will be repeated on each tooth until all of your child’s dental sealants are in place.
For most kids, Dr. Rai will recommend getting sealants at the age of six years. This is when your child’s first adult molars will erupt, and sealants are highly effective at preventing cavities in their rear teeth. Then, your child should get sealants again around the age of 12-13, when their final set of adult molars comes out.
Each child is different, though. If your child is highly susceptible to cavities, Dr. Rai may recommend more frequent treatments. For more information, you can contact us to schedule a checkup for your child in Arlington, VA. We’re always looking forward to seeing their little smiles!
Yes. While each policy is different, most dental plans will cover the cost of pediatric dental sealants for kids under 18 as part of their preventive treatment. For more information, we recommend getting in touch with your provider to understand the full scope of your coverage.
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