There are about 4 million children in the U.S who have difficulty sleeping, eating and learning because of caries (tooth decay). Caries is the number one, chronic childhood disease, and it is preventable. One simple way to prevent caries is applying sealant to the top surface of your child's permanent molars where the majority of cavities start.
It is especially important for us to examine your child’s first permanent molars when they erupt (about 6 years old). Permanent molars are susceptible to decay because the top surface is not smooth. There are cusps (bulges at each corner of the tooth), and pits and fissures between the bulges where bacteria and food particles can lodge. The bristles of your child's toothbrush often cannot dislodge all the food debris out of those deep crevices.
Bacteria feed on the lodged food particles and produce an acid that leeches calcium and phosphorous out of tooth enamel. This results in a soft spot on the tooth. If left alone, this spot eventually becomes a cavity.
We can prevent tooth decay with a resin material called a sealant. Sealant is brushed over the top of the pits and fissures. It quickly dries to form a hard, impenetrable surface. If placed in time, a soft spot rarely progresses to a cavity.
Statistics show that caries are reduced by 87 percent the first year the sealant is applied.
Sealant eventually wears down and must be reapplied about every four to five years.
It's important to remember that sealant is not a substitute for daily brushing, flossing, a tooth-friendly diet and regular dental examinations.
A sealant isn't just for kids; adolescents and adults can benefit from it, too!
Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.
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