Sealants: A Way to Prevent Childhood Carries
The American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry have published two systematic reviews, led by Timothy Wright, DDS, MS, applauding sealants for their part in preventing carries in children.
A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth — usually the back teeth (the premolars and molars) — to prevent tooth decay. The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.
“Sealants are a proven and effective therapy for preventing cavities in children and teens. Oral disease can greatly impact one’s concentration and self-esteem and contributes to more than 51 million hours of missed school each year.”
The review reaffirms that sealants should be a routine part of cavity prevention, as children with sealants are up to 80 percent less prone to cavities compared to those without them.
Some areas are looking to implement school-based dental sealant programs which could reach many students in low socioeconomic areas with little access to dental care.
Christina Scherrer, a professor at Kennesaw State University, is part of the research team studying the effectiveness of school-based dental sealant programs.
“A dental filling for a cavity costs several times as much as a sealant, so this is a situation where the preventative sealant could save money and avoid the pain and inconvenience of tooth decay,” Scherrer explained.
She also states that students without access to dental care show up in the ER with pain, often times leading to a root canal or extraction.
It is recommended that all children should have their molars evaluated for sealants soon after they erupt.
www.news.kennesaw.edu, mouthhealthy.org, mychildrensteeth.org
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