When Can My Child Get Sealants?

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Sealants are a popular procedure for parents because they can drastically reduce the amount of dental visits that you need to make with your child. However, they’re also time-sensitive. Here, we’ll look at when to get sealants in Hackensack, NJ, how they protect your child’s mouth, and where you can turn for professional advice.

When Should Kids Get Sealants?

Sealant can be applied as early as six years old when the first permanent molars come in. Once the second molars erupt, usually around age 12, you can schedule another sealant appointment with your dentist in Hackensack, NJ.

Whether you opt for sealants on the child’s wisdom teeth (sometimes called third molars), depends on not just how the wisdom teeth erupt but the inherent surface of the wisdom tooth. For example, if the wisdom teeth come in perfectly and feature deep grooves, sealants may be recommended.

Why Should Children Get Sealants?

Sealants essentially correct for fissures in teeth. Molars have grooves and pockmarks during childhood which can make them difficult to clean. When kids can already be careless when brushing and flossing, sealants fill in the gaps and virtually eliminate the odds of a cavity.

Once your child hits adulthood, the molars will have smoothed out on their own, which means that the sealants lose effectiveness over time. That being said, it’s one of the smartest ways to protect your child’s mouth as they age.

The right pediatric dentist can counsel you on the best treatments long before you have to think about sealants. (Dentists recommend your child’s first dental visit within six months of their first tooth eruption.) If you’re interested in scheduling a sealant appointment or having your child evaluated, contact State Street Smiles to learn more.

A woman sitting in a dental chair fills out a form on a clipboard while a dental professional wearing a mask watches.

4 Benefits of Dental Sealants

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Dental sealants may look like a small step, but they can play a big role in keeping teeth healthy. They’re most often used for kids, though adults can benefit as well. By adding a thin layer of protection on the chewing surfaces of back teeth, sealants give an extra line of defense against everyday wear and decay.

1. Protecting Against Cavities

Molars have deep grooves that naturally collect food particles and bacteria. Even the best brushing habits can miss those spots. Sealants work by covering the grooves with a smooth surface, making it harder for decay to start. For kids especially, this added barrier can make a real difference, as your pediatric dentist in Hackensack, NJ can tell you.

2. Fast And Simple To Apply

One reason patients like sealants is how quick and painless the procedure is. The dentist cleans and dries the tooth, brushes on the sealant material, and then hardens it with a special light. There’s no drilling, no needles, and no recovery time—just protection that starts working right away.

3. Helping Avoid Future Problems

Sealants can save families time and money by preventing cavities that might otherwise need fillings. With regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits, they can last for years.

4. Extra Support For Young Smiles

Children benefit the most from sealants because their newly erupted molars are more vulnerable. Applying sealants early helps preserve those permanent teeth, setting kids up for healthier mouths as they grow.

Though simple, dental sealants bring lasting value. They guard hard-to-reach areas, reduce the chance of cavities, and make oral care easier overall. If you’d like to know if sealants are right for you or your child, a quick conversation with your Hackensack, NJ dentist can help guide the next step.

A dentist uses a curing light and dental tools to treat a young girl’s teeth in a dental chair.

3 Reasons to Consider Dental Sealants for Your Child

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Are you looking for effective ways to help protect your child from cavities? Your dentist in Hackensack, NJ, can help with dental sealants. If you’ve never heard of dental sealants or are just not that familiar with the benefits of dental sealants, here’s what you need to know.

1. Dental Sealants Are An Effective Way to Protect Molars

Dental sealants are generally applied to a child’s molars to help protect their teeth from cavities. In fact, dental sealants can protect the back teeth from 80% of cavities over the course of two years. It’s said that children 6 to 11 years old who do not have dental sealants have over three times as many cavities as children with dental sealants. In other words, dental sealants work!

2. Dental Sealants Are Long-Lasting

Dental sealants can last for years. Over time, the sealant will start to wear off, but your child’s dentist will let you know when your child needs more dental sealants in Hackensack, NJ. Taking your child to the dentist periodically will help ensure your child gets dental sealants reapplied as needed.

3. Dental Sealants Are Easy to Apply

Dental sealants in Hackensack, NJ, are easy to install on tooth enamel. Your child’s dentist will paint the sealants on the teeth. Sealants harden quickly to provide long-lasting protection. This can be done in the dental office without a special appointment. The process is painless.

Want to know more about dental sealants? The professionals at State Street Smiles are happy to answer your questions. Call our office to find out more information, or make an appointment for a dental cleaning and speak with the dentist when you bring your child in.