Today’s dental blog focuses on a preventative treatment often used to help impede the development of cavities in children.
Dental sealants are a thin coat of clear resin that is applied to the biting surfaces of teeth, usually the rear molars. The back teeth are more prone to cavities because is difficult to reach them with a tooth brush and the surfaces contain pits and grooves that easily trap bacteria. It is hard for many adults to clean their back molars and almost impossible for our young Half Moon Bay children.
Dental sealants fill in the pits and grooves on the rear molars to create a smooth surface. San Francisco family dentists most often recommend sealants for children’s permanent back teeth, though sometimes they are used for adults, too.
Daly City parents may not realize how quickly a cavity can form in a young child’s mouth. Many Pacifica area kids that we see develop cavities even before they start kindergarten!
It is vital that our local parents start regular dental visits early for their toddlers and young children. The American Dental Association advises that a child’s initial dental exam take place soon after the first tooth erupts, but no later than the toddler’s first birthday.
Dental sealants protect teeth that have no decay (primary prevention) and also prevent further decay progression in teeth that show very early signs of disease (secondary prevention).
At Kenneth Hovden DDS, we take special care of our young Daly City dental patients. We want each child’s dental visits to be pleasant and painless so they will never develop a fear of the dentist. We advise parents on the specific dental issues associated with each stage of childhood. Ask us about fluoride, sports mouthguards, and orthodontic treatment.
I am Kenneth Hovden of Kenneth Hovden DDS. I don’t believe that childhood cavities are unavoidable. Call my office at 650-755-6000 to schedule a Daly City dental exam.
I provide comprehensive restorative and cosmetic dentistry for San Francisco people of all ages. My office is located at 901 Campus Dr Ste 202 in Daly City.
