Your child’s permanent teeth, will need to serve them for the rest of their lives. Molars and premolars are some of the last teeth to emerge. When they do, it’s quite common for there to be deep pits, fissure and textured areas on the biting surface. Sometimes these areas can be so deep and hard to clean that they serve as a trap for food particles and plaque. This increases the chances of rather large cavities forming in these area.

One of the easiest ways to prevent these cavities, is to have Dr. Gayle Fletcher apply dental sealants. This is basically a durable plastic-resin carefully painted onto the biting surface of your son or daughter’s molars and premolars. A special ultraviolet light is used to harden the resin, creating a protective layer.

Even if plaque and food particles get stuck in the pits and fissures of the biting surface the dental sealants will act as a barrier blocking bacteria from direct access to the tooth enamel. The dental sealants are very durable and can help to protect the biting surface for two years or more.

It’s important to remind your son or daughter that the sealants are only protecting the biting surfaces. The rest of the tooth will still be vulnerable to tooth decay. Maintaining a diligent oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing twice a day is still critical for preventing future cavities. They shouldn’t be afraid to brush the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The dental sealants are durable enough that they won’t be affected by basic brushing.

If you are interested in having your child’s teeth protected with dental sealants, you should call Dr. Gayle Fletcher’s office in Conroe, Texas at 936-856-9969 to schedule an appointment.