A child’s dental health begins way before their first tooth erupts and intensifies once their baby teeth come in. But baby teeth aren’t as strong as permanent teeth, and most young children haven’t yet mastered the art of brushing and flossing their teeth. That means they’re prone to cavities.

At Arya Dental, in Fullerton, California, our talented team offers dental services to the whole family, no matter their age. One preventive measure we provide for children is dental sealants. Here’s what the team has to say about their importance for your child’s teeth.

Prevalence of dental caries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tooth decay (aka dental caries or cavities) is the most common chronic disease among children between the ages of 6 and 19. Untreated caries can cause pain and infections, making regular monitoring of dental health key to preventing and controlling mouth diseases.

For 2015–2016, the total prevalence of caries (both untreated and treated) was 45.8%, and untreated caries was 13.0% in this age group.

When looking at children in families living below the poverty level, the prevalence of untreated caries was 18.6% compared to only 7.0% for kids whose family income was greater than 300% of the federal poverty level.

What are dental sealants?

Dental sealants are thin coatings of a tooth-colored composite resin, glass isomer, or polyacid resin that the dentist paints on the biting surfaces of the back molars to prevent cavities. The resin protects against enamel damage and decay. The CDC indicates that children ages 6-11 who aren’t treated with sealants have almost three times more cavities on their first set of molars than those who do get treated.

As our team adds the sealant, it flows into the deep grooves and pits of the back teeth and hardens immediately as a physical barrier protecting tooth enamel from plaque and acid. Sealants are also long-lasting, sometimes lasting for years before needing to be reapplied. They’re most effective when used around six years old, when the first set of molars comes in, and around 12 years old when the second set erupts.

Sealants are quick, easy, and painless — kid-friendly. They prevent most of the cavities children get in the hard-to-reach back teeth, where 9 out of 10 cavities occur. After application, sealants protect against some 80% of cavities for two years and 50% for up to four years, eliminating most of the need for invasive and expensive procedures such as dental fillings and crowns.

Want to learn more about how dental sealants can help your child’s teeth? Contact Arya Dental by calling 714-646-9546 or booking online today.