ASK THE DENTIST is a sponsored column on TucsonTopia. If you have a question about anything related to pediatric dental care, send it to [email protected]. Your question could be selected next!
Q. What is a sealant and why are they necessary for my child's teeth?
A. Sealant is a plastic material (resin based) that is painted on the chewing surface of the back teeth to keep food debris, plaque, and acid from getting into the deep pits and fissures, which are too deep for the bristles of the brush to clean. It is preferred that the sealant be done within the first 6 months to one year of the tooth erupting into the mouth. Placement is simple and quick and rarely involves numbing or drilling. After cleaning the tooth and painting a bonding agent, the sealant is placed where it flows into the grooves and pits and then is hardened with a special curing light.
With good oral hygiene and diet, sealants can last several years before needing to be reapplied. Factors that can affect the longevity of the sealant can be things such as: a highly acidic diet (examples: too much soda and juice), chewing ice, and/or too many sticky foods (examples: caramel & taffy).
P.S. Please call 520-886-7575 to set up your child’s appointment at our office in east Tucson. We have a super kid-friendly staff and space! Toddlers and young children love our Disney themed playroom and post-appointment goodie bags. Hope to see you soon.
Niloofar Hubrich is a 1996 graduate of University of Mississippi and a 1997 post graduate of University of Tennessee in General Dentistry who has limited her practice to Pediatrics. She and her husband Raymond both practice at Hubrich Dental in Tucson. Niloofar loves reading, cooking with her husband, traveling, and Mickey Mouse.
