Protect your child’s teeth from cavities with help from dental sealants.
Nothing is more important than making sure your child is brushing and flossing regularly and properly; however, besides good oral 
hygiene, there are other approaches our Remington, VA, family dentist Dr. Courtney Ashby can take to reduce your child’s risk for cavities. One way to do this is to place dental sealants.
What is a dental sealant?
Sealants are plastic coatings that are painted on the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth to prevent cavities from forming between the ridges and crevices of these molars. Sealants are placed on molars because these teeth are more susceptible to decay and these nooks and crannies can make it easy for bacteria to cling to these areas. The best way to seal out bacteria is with dental sealants.
When should my child get dental sealants?
Once your child’s first set of molars has erupted (usually around the age of 6 or 7) it’s a good time to bring them in to talk to our Remington, VA, dentist about getting sealants.
Of course, once your child’s second set of molars comes in (around the age of 12) you’ll want to bring them in to place another set of dental sealants.
How are dental sealants placed?
First, the teeth are cleaned and dried off. Next, an acidic solution is placed on the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth. The solution helps the sealant stick to the enamel once it’s placed. Once the solution is removed then we will paint the sealant onto the molar and then harden it into place with a dental light. The dental sealant process is quick and completely painless.
How long do sealants last?
Dental sealants have the ability to last up to a year, but it’s important that your child maintains good oral hygiene to preserve the sealants. When your child comes in for their six-month cleanings we will also check the health of their sealants. Broken sealants or sealants that fall out can easily be replaced with new ones.
Do you want to find out if it’s the right time for your child to get dental sealants right here in Remington, VA? If so, call Remington Family Dentistry today. We would be happy to place them during their next routine dental cleaning.