Dental sealants are placed over the pits and fissures on
the chewing surfaces of teeth. Their goal is to protect those surfaces from the
start of tooth decay. As soon as the permanent molars erupt, we typically
recommend placing sealants. Depending on how susceptible each individual’s
teeth are to cavities, we may even recommend sealants on the premolars as they
erupt. Below we will discuss some of the advantages of dental sealants.
ADA News reports that sealants can prevent around 80% of
cavities in school aged children. However, 60% of those children did not
receive dental sealants according to the CDC. The same report also found that
if you did not have sealants, you had 3 times as many cavities as those who
did. The resulting dental work totaled around $300 million that could have been
prevented had some 7 million low-income children been provided sealants.
Because
this is such a large problem, many local organizations have out-reach programs
that offer free dental services to underprivileged children. A major focus of
these programs is preventative dentistry. Along with fluoride treatments and
home care instructions, sealants are an important part in breaking the cycle of
early on-set tooth decay.
Are
there any concerns or health related consequences with dental sealants? The
only concern brought to our attention has been the presence of BPA
(bisphenol-A) in the sealants. There is some concern BPA could be related to
some health issues. But the ADA
Dental
sealants are a good option for nearly every child as their permanent molars
begin to erupt. They are non-invasive and can greatly reduce the potential for
cavities. Be sure to ask us if you have any questions or concerns about your
child and sealants.
Lee T. Brown, DDS
Brown and Kupper, DDS
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