How Often Should Kids Get Dental Sealants?

Posted on 8/24/2020 by Fariba Mutschler

Teaching your kids good dental habits can keep their teeth healthy and free of cavities for a long time. It will also mean that they will take good care of their mouth as adults, but sometimes, even with proper hygiene, there are risks of getting cavities in the back teeth.

Molars are rough and uneven, which makes them a good place for bacteria to grow. To prevent cavities in some of your child's permanent molars, they can be fitted with dental sealants which should last for many years.

What are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are shields made of hardened plastic that are placed on the surface of your child's molars to protect them from cavities and tooth decay. In a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sealants were shown to reduce decay in permanent molars by 81-percent approximately two-years after they were placed and up to four-and-a-half-years following placement.

Do Dental Sealants Need to be Replaced?

In general, dental sealants do not need replacing because they are made of sturdy, durable materials. With proper oral care and regular dental visits, they should last up more than 15-years. There are circumstances in which the plastic used for the sealant wears down. This happens usually when kids grind or clench their teeth, eat hard candy regularly, or have other habits such as biting on hard pencils.

A mouth guard can protect the dental sealants from grinding or clenching and other habits can change to help keep the sealants working properly, but in some instances, they will need to be replaced if cracks or other abnormalities are present.

Keeping regular dental appointments is important and can affect how often your child gets a dental sealant. Make sure you bring your child in twice per year or if you have any concerns about their oral health.

My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.

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Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
Great Grins for KIDS Portland, 13908 SE Stark Street, Ste C, Portland, OR 97233-2161 / (971) 470-0054 / portlandchildrensdentist.com / 9/8/2024 / Related Phrases: pediatric dentist Portland /