Dental sealants safeguard your child’s back teeth against tooth decay and infections. Although the process is painless, children can still experience some anxiety once they know they must endure a procedure. The following article will outline what parents can expect their child to experience during the dental sealant process to help calm them before the appointment.
Dental sealants are a standard treatment easily performed in the pediatric dentist’s office, much like filling a cavity. After the routine cleaning and examination, the dentist can perform the procedure during the same appointment. However, this may require allocating a bit of extra time for the visit.
Once in the dental chair, the pediatric dentist or dental hygienist will clean the child’s teeth, eliminating plaque and food particles trapped between the pits and crevices. Plaque or food stuck between teeth can prevent sealants from bonding properly or, worse, remain and cause dental rot.
The pediatric dentist may apply a unique gel over the teeth to help roughen the tooth’s surface so that the sealant may better adhere to it. The dentist will rinse and dry the mouth once the gel has dried. Keeping the mouth dry during the sealant bonding process is vital since saliva disturbs this process. Therefore, the dentist will likely use a small rubber instrument called a dental dam to prevent complications.
The sealant consists of a thick, liquid, plastic-like substance that spreads into the teeth’ grooves after application. The spreading process helps the sealant remain securely in place. The pediatric dentist will then harden the sealant, known as curing or light curing. For curing, the dentist uses a gadget that looks like a tiny flashlight at the end of a tube that shines a special light on the sealant — the light aids in the hardening of the sealants by speeding up the process.
Finally, the pediatric dentist will examine the child’s bite. This ensures the thickness of the sealants offers no disturbance when the child closes their teeth together. If there seems to be inadequate or excessive sealant, they may add or remove it, but this is uncommon.
Applying dental sealants is quick and painless since it does not involve drilling or scraping. The use of numbing medication or local anesthetic is usually unnecessary. However, there is the cleaning aspect of the process, so if patients experience discomfort during standard dental cleanings, they can anticipate a similar degree of discomfort for a short period. However, the pediatric dentist will take measures to make the entire process as comfortable as possible.
Immediately after placement, it is normal to feel the presence of dental sealants. Parents should monitor their children to ensure they do not try to “pick” at the sealant for the first 48 hours. Most children rapidly adapt to them and do not even notice them after a few days.
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Dental sealants are painless. We can place dental sealants in about 45 minutes, depending on how many your child needs. If you have additional questions regarding dental sealants or need to schedule your child’s next appointment, contact our pediatric dental office.
Request an appointment or call Bergen County Pediatric Dentistry at 201-312-6937 for an appointment in our Allendale office.
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