Keeping your child's smile healthy and cavity-free can feel like a constant battle, especially when it comes to those hard-to-reach back teeth. Fortunately, there's a simple and highly effective way to protect their teeth before decay starts.
At Novi Family Dentistry in Novi, Michigan, Dr. Abir Faraj, DDS, specializes in providing gentle, preventive care for patients of all ages. Along with services such as fluoride treatment, we offer dental sealants to provide your child's teeth an extra layer of defense.
Dental sealants are thin, protective coatings painted directly on the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth, or molars. These sealants quickly bond to the deep grooves of their teeth, creating a smooth, physical barrier that keeps food and bacteria out.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), applying sealants to your child’s back teeth prevents 80% of cavities over a two-year period. This is incredibly important because these back molars are where 90% of childhood cavities actually occur.
Some parents worry that dental sealants might expose their children to unsafe levels of Bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA. However, clinical research shows that the trace amount of BPA in sealants is completely harmless.
The American Dental Association (ADA) notes that the tiny amount of BPA in sealants poses no health risk. In fact, your child is exposed to more BPA simply by breathing the surrounding air than from a dental sealant.
Getting sealants is a quick, painless process that takes only a few minutes per tooth. There's no drilling or numbing required, making it an easy experience for children of all ages.
First, we clean and dry the tooth to prepare the surface. Next, we apply a special gel to help the sealant stick, rinse it off, and paint the liquid sealant onto the enamel. Finally, we use a special curing light to harden the shield instantly.
Protecting your child’s teeth now can spare them discomfort — and fillings — later on. If you want to protect your child's growing smile, schedule a visit with Dr. Faraj and our team at Novi Family Dentistry today by calling 313-646-7903 or booking online.
