Sealants
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Lawrence O'Mallon, DMD
Children's Dentist & Orthodontics located in Jersey City, NJ
Brushing and flossing are the best ways to prevent tooth decay, but children can’t always reach every small groove and gap. That’s why Lawrence O’Mallon, DMD, and his team offer sealants as a preventive treatment to keep your child's teeth healthy, clean, and cavity-free. Call Dr. O’Mallon today to learn more about how sealants can protect your smile.
Sealants Q & A
What are sealants?
A sealant is a thin protective coating that covers the back molars to prevent bacteria from harming hard-to-reach teeth. The sealant completely bonds to each groove of the tooth to keep leftover food and other small particles from forming cavities. In many cases, sealants can lower risk of developing molar cavities by up to 80%.
Who can get sealants?
While anybody can get sealants, they're most often recommended for children and teenagers during their most cavity-prone years, ages six through 16. Most dentists recommend sealants at the first sign of a child’s permanent molars to protect the chewing surfaces of their back teeth.
However, some use sealants on baby teeth that are highly susceptible to cavities, especially if they have many small depressions and grooves.
How are sealants placed?
It takes only a few minutes to seal each tooth. The teeth are cleaned and chewing surfaces are prepared to help the sealant stick to the tooth. The sealant is "painted" onto the chewing surface, where it bonds to the tooth. A special light may be used to help the sealant harden.
Sealants can help protect your child’s teeth from cavities and tooth decay. If you think sealants are the right preventive treatment for you or your family, call Dr. Lawrence O’Mallon today.
