Tag: dental sealants

What You Need to Know About Dental Sealants

Posted on by Wilson Pediatric Dentistry

dental-sealants-wilson-nc

Dental sealants have become a popular service for parents seeking some extra protection for their children’s teeth. But why are sealants important? And what can they offer that a routine teeth cleaning cannot?

Before discussing the importance of dental sealants, let’s go over what a dental sealant is and how it works.

What Are Dental Sealants?

A protective dental sealant is a thin protective coating that is usually made from plastic or other dental materials. It adheres to the surface of your molars, which are the teeth we use for chewing. 

A sealant acts as a shield for your teeth. When we eat, bacteria from food particles remains on our teeth. And when this bacteria is not swept away by brushing, flossing, or mouthwash, it can attack the tooth and cause decay, better known as a cavity. 

But with a sealant standing in the way, those food particles (and the bacteria they carry) never actually come into contact with the tooth. Instead, they come to rest on the surface of the sealant and not the tooth itself. 

Why Are Sealants Important?

Cavities are so common in children because kids have not yet perfected the art of brushing their teeth. Young brushers tend to miss spots and leave harmful food particles on the surface of their teeth. The bacteria present in these food particles is a big reason why more than 50 percent of children develop a cavity between the ages of 6 and 11. 

Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay in molars by almost 80 percent, and school-age children without sealants have nearly three times as many cavities as children with sealants. 

Sealants are applied with a brush and the process is completely painless. By protecting your child’s teeth from cavities, they can avoid costly repair work in the future and put them on a track toward a happy and healthy smile in adulthood. 

Dental Sealants Near You

Wilson Pediatric Dentistry is a kids dentist in Greenville, NC, offering dental sealants to children along with a range of other dental services. Contact us to learn more about our sealant service and consider adding the protection to your children’s teeth that will keep them smiling for years to come.

 

What Treatments Are Available at Wilson Pediatric Dentistry?

Posted on by Wilson Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry

At Wilson Pediatric Dentistry, we know how important your child’s dental health is. That’s why our services are tailored to your child and are designed to help ensure the healthy development of your little ones’ teeth.

Here’s a look at the pediatric dental treatments we offer.

7 of Our Available Pediatric Dentistry Services

Exams and cleaning

We go beyond the traditional dental exam and teeth cleaning to ensure your child’s teeth are developing as they should be. We keep a close eye on this, in addition to using fluoride treatments designed to help strengthen teeth and prevent decay.

Sealant

This procedure involves the application of dental sealant on your child’s teeth. Sealant helps protect your kid’s teeth from bacteria and prevent cavities.

Cavity treatment

If your child does get a cavity, we can help. This procedure involves removing the affected part of the tooth and then replacing the area with cavity filling. In rare cases, when the decay is very severe, a dental crown may be needed.

Disking

Disking helps ensure your child’s teeth have room to grow. If a tooth does not appear to have space to grow in the mouth, we will shave off a thin layer from the surrounding teeth. This leaves room for that permanent tooth to grow without becoming crooked or misaligned.

Space maintainers

If your child loses a tooth early, they may need space maintainers. These are custom-fit, removable appliances that ensure the teeth surrounding the gap do not come in crooked or misaligned.

Dental x-rays

X-rays allow the dentist to see any issues with your child’s teeth that may not be easily apparent. Consult the dentist for more information on when these x-rays should be considered for your kid.

Early orthodontics

Interceptive orthodontics help prevent the need for orthodontia later in life. This should be considered when your kid’s permanent teeth start coming in, as early orthodontic care is designed to help ensure these teeth come in correctly.

Schedule a Dental Appointment Today

In addition to the treatments noted above, our dental practice offers emergency care services. For routine dental exams and other select procedures, our team offers the option of general anesthesia for children with severe dental anxiety. Our staff is happy to walk you through your options for this service.

Make sure your child has a positive dental experience from the very start by choosing a kids pediatric dentistry. If you live in the Greenville or Rocky Mount, North Carolina, area, Wilson Pediatric Dentistry is the premier pediatric dentist near you.

Learn more about possible dental treatments to consider for your child here.

How Can Dental Sealants Protect Your Children’s Teeth?

Posted on by Wilson Pediatric Dentistry

dentist applying dental selants to a child's teeth with a purple light

Teaching children to brush and floss efficiently enough to prevent cavities can be a challenge for even the most diligent parents. Factor in all the juice and other sweets children get their hands on and it’s no wonder over 40 percent of kids under 11 develop cavities on their baby teeth. 

Fortunately, there’s an easier way to protect children’s teeth from plaque, bacteria, and decay. Many parents today are turning to dental sealants for help.

How Dental Sealants Work

So how can dental sealants protect your children’s teeth?

A dental sealant is a very thin layer of plastic coating that is applied to the surfaces of teeth. They are most often used on the back teeth where most chewing takes place. The sealant fills the grooves and crevices of the teeth to form a protective shield over the enamel. This protective shield forms a barrier between food and the actual tooth, making it more difficult for sugar and other harmful substances to attack the tooth.

Applying Sealants

Applying dental sealants is not a difficult process. Your children’s teeth will first be cleaned and dried. Then an acid substance is placed on the teeth to provide the sealants something to bond with. After rinsing and drying the teeth again, the sealant is then “painted” onto the teeth with a brush where it then hardens.

Dental sealants are recommended during the cavity-prone ages of six to 14. Dental sealants can last for up to 10 years and will be inspected for wear and tear during regular checkups. Many insurance companies provide coverage for the cost of dental sealants for patients under 18 years of age.  

Where to Get Dental Sealants for Your Children

Wilson Pediatric Dentistry is happy to provide dental sealants and other treatments for your child. We understand that visiting a dentist can be scary for a child and that’s why we’ve dedicated our practice to providing the best possible experience for young patients in a fun and comfortable environment. Our team has years of training and experience working with children, even ones who have had negative experiences at a dentist in the past.   

Schedule an appointment today for our Wooten Blvd location in Wilson, NC to help put a smile on your child’s face.