To protect a child’s teeth from tooth decay, regular brushing and avoiding sugary snacks, together with professional cleaning and fluoride treatment at the dentist, are complemented by a particularly important treatment: preventive sealing of the pits and fissures of the permanent teeth (sealants).
Sealants are dental materials (highly flowable resins) that dentists use to cover the pits and fissures of permanent teeth, mainly the first permanent molars, which erupt at around age 6. These teeth have many pits, grooves and fissures and are difficult to clean properly by brushing, so their risk of decay is increased. Sealants remove the risk of decay on the chewing surfaces of the permanent molars.
Applying sealants is simple and painless. The grooves of the tooth are cleaned thoroughly (without drilling or removing enamel) and coated with a thin layer of material over the fissures, which is then hardened with a curing light.
Sealants should be checked at least once a year during the child’s regular dental check-up, and any lost material should be replaced. The second permanent molars erupt at around age 12 and should be sealed as well.
The materials used for sealants are completely safe for children and their cost is affordable.
For appointments and information, contact Dr. Giannis Ritsas, pediatrician Thessaloniki and pediatrician Evosmos.