Sealants

Dental sealants are a treatment used to prevent cavities. The most common area people get cavities are in the deep grooves and fissures of the back molars. As people eat, food and bacteria tend to get stuck along these deep grooves and break down teeth along these common food traps. Dentists specifically warn parents about sugary and sticky foods like taffy because they cause the most damage in these areas.

Sealants are a non-invasive and painless method of "weatherproofing" your teeth by filling up the large and small grooves. It's a quick and simple process to complete and most kids 3 and older can usually tolerate the procedure.

The procedure runs as follows: Teeth are cleaned off, dried, and isolated from saliva. The sealant is applied as a liquid so that it flows to all grooves and fissures and then a special light is used to harden the sealants.

It's a great first procedure for young kids because there's no scary needles, loud drills, or pain, and it's quick.  If sealants are done early, they can spare your kids the risk of having a bad experience by preventing cavities before they happen. Kids will also be encouraged to take better care of their teeth over the long term if they develop a relationship with their dentist early on.