Are Dental Sealants Safe?

The best way to prevent cavities is to adopt good oral hygiene and maintain a healthy diet, but there are other ways for you to ensure that your children’s teeth are well protected from tooth decay as they grow older. One of the few ways is to get dental sealants. But what are dental sealants? Are they safe for your child?

Defining Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are thin tooth-colored coatings applied on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to serve as protection from tooth decay. Sealants prevent food and bacteria from getting into the nooks and crannies of the teeth, which are hard to remove with regular tooth brushing. Made of plastic, these are usually applied to children and young adults as they are more susceptible to cavities.

Your pediatric dentist will usually recommend dental sealants by the time your child’s first molars erupt, usually when they turn six years old. Their second molars will emerge by age 12, and they will again be recommended to get dental sealants on these teeth. As much as possible, sealants should be applied as soon as the tooth erupts so they are given protection immediately.

Safety of Dental Sealants

Despite the big advantages, dental sealants offer to kids, there are some controversies surrounding this dental treatment. Some experts claim that dental sealants contain the chemical BPA, a plastic found in baby bottles. It should be noted, though, that these are just mere claims, and thorough research from reputable sources should put your mind at ease.

First of all, the chemical compound in dental sealants is merely derived from BPA, making them fundamentally different. This synthesized BPA is a bigger compound so it is less likely to get absorbed in the mouth. And even when this compound is absorbed in the mouth, there are no studies indicating that they inflict harm on the child. It is the smaller compounds that impose risks.

Aside from the size of the synthesized BPA that poses less risk, the compound also only contains trace amounts. This makes it no different from drinking tap water, which contains trace amounts of mercury and lead. With ongoing advancements in the manufacture of dental sealants, we can only expect them to be safer and more effective in the prevention of tooth decay.

Dental sealants give your kids another layer of protection from the harmful effects of cavities and tooth decay. If you want to ensure that your kids grow a beautiful smile as they mature, it might be high time to consider dental sealants. Contact your pediatric dentist today to schedule a consultation, and learn more about this breakthrough dental treatment.