How Soon Can My Child Get a Dental Sealant?

Dental sealants are great for protecting teeth for people of all ages, including children. Our team at Advanced Dentistry of Centre County in State College, PA can help patients with their dental sealant needs.

Dental sealants are easy to apply and cover the nooks and crannies on the premolars and molars. The protective material prevents bacteria and other items from getting stuck in the teeth, reducing the risk of decay and harm. Dental sealants can last for about ten years on average and are sturdy enough to protect the teeth.

Our sealants can also work for children’s teeth, but you’ll need to wait until the molars and premolars start to develop. Sealants are especially useful for children who have a tendency to develop cavities easily.

Understanding how your child’s teeth develop

Your child’s first molars will develop at about six years of age. This is the point where your child can benefit from dental sealants. The molars are permanent teeth that aren’t going to replace existing teeth, so it should be fine for your child to receive sealants over these teeth.

The second molars will emerge at about twelve years of age. These teeth will also require sealants at this point. The wisdom teeth will develop at about 18 years, on average, although sealants are only necessary if those third molars aren’t crowding the teeth and are erupting well. Any wisdom tooth that hasn’t formed well will require removal.

The premolars will also appear at about nine years of age, in most cases. Your child’s premolars can get sealants as soon as they develop.

How do dental sealants help with cavity prevention?

Dental sealants can go over baby teeth to protect them from cavities. It is easier for a child’s permanent teeth to develop when the baby teeth are also healthy. These teeth could also have pitted areas or deep grooves, so they will require sealants for their protection. The dental sealants we offer Advanced Dentistry of Centre County in State College, PA will help your child’s teeth stay healthy and strong as they develop.

Are these sealants going to put your child at risk?

You may be worried about dental sealants for your child, as sealants are made with bisphenol and other items used to make plastics. But the risk of your child being harmed by BPA or any other plastic used in a sealant is minimal. BPA has been found to be harmless in minor quantities. Your child will even be more likely to be exposed to BPA by breathing the air, so the risk of the material will be minimal.

Contact us today to learn about dental sealants for your child’s teeth

Dental sealants are useful for children who need extra help protecting their teeth from decay and cavities. You can contact us at Advanced Dentistry of Centre County in State College, PA to learn more about how our service works. Our dentists will review your child’s teeth and find a suitable treatment solution that will work for them. Contact us today to learn more about our service and how we can help.