Sealants Shield Your Kids from Back to School Cavities

Sealants Help Kids Fight Cavities

School reopens for kids across Washington state this fall. For many parents, cooped up with their kids throughout the past school year+, having kids go back to school is a welcome relief. But as kids leave the home to get back to their classes, it also means more meals and snacks away from the house – where kids can’t effectively brush or floss. Will this lead to back-to-school cavities?

Sealants Help Kids Fight CavitiesMaybe not. There’s a dental treatment that can offer some significant insurance to help keep your kids’ teeth cavity free while they’re at school. Sealants – a thin, clear coating that’s painted onto the chewing surfaces of the teeth (molars) to fill in any pits – the places that food residue gets stuck, accumulates, and can promote tooth decay/cavities. When your kids are a school, between these lulls in dental hygiene, sealants can offer some additional protection.

In fact, they’re one of the most effective ways to reduce cavities among children five to 15 years old – especially for kids who may be more predisposed to cavities.

According to the CDC, sealants provide protection against tooth decay by nearly 80 percent in molars for two years, and they continue to protect against 50 percent of cavities for up to four years.

5 Reasons to Consider Sealants for Your Kids

  1. Sealants are Effective– Kids in general, and those more likely to develop cavities (or have a family history with them) will benefit from sealants. Studies show that school-age children who don’t have sealants are nearly 3 times more likely to get molar cavities compared to kids with sealants.
  2. They’re Non-Invasive, Easy & Pain Free – There’s no need for any numbing and the complete set of sealants can be taken care of in just one visit.
  3. They’re Invisible – you can’t see them and they don’t stain.
  4. They Last a Long Time – Sealants last about 5 to 10 years. Once they have run their course, sealants can be reapplied if needed – we’ll verify the condition of the sealants at every dental exam.
  5. They Make Sense Economically – Especially for kids at risk for getting more cavities. Sealants are a less expensive option than the cost of fillings, and they may be covered by your dental insurance.
  6. They’re Not Just for Kids – Sealants can benefit adults too – especially adults who have a greater risk for developing cavities; i.e. due to symptoms like dry mouth or from health conditions like diabetes.

Learn More – Ask for a Sealants Consult

When it comes to protecting your kids’ teeth from tooth decay, sealants are safe and effective. They do offer additional support to reduce cavities, but they still don’t replace the importance of practicing good daily oral hygiene, and keeping your kids up to date on their routine dental exams and teeth cleaning.

If you think your child could benefit from dental sealants, please ask us during your next visit or schedule an appointment – call (206) 524-1000 or request a consult online.

P.S. We at NSD wish everyone a smooth, safe and harmonious “back to school” transition this fall!

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