Dental Sealants in Monroe, Louisiana

Preventative Care for Children and Pre-Teens

At Eddleman Dental, we strive to provide patients of all ages excellent dental care—including children and teens! One of the most common and effective treatments to help prevent cavities in children and pre-teens is dental sealants. The resin coating applied to the chewing surface of the back molars can prevent up to 80% of cavities. Eddleman Dental recommends dental sealants for children beginning at age six to protect the molars from decay.

Preteen dental patient smiling in dental chair

What are Dental Sealants?

While tooth decay is a common problem, young children are most susceptible to decay, especially if their diets include sugary drinks and snacks. Dental sealants create a hard, protective barrier on the chewing surface of the back molars which helps to prevent cavities. Sealants are a preventative treatment that consists of a resin coating that is painted onto the surfaces of the molars to fill in the deep grooves and crevices. While brushing and flossing are the best ways to remove food particles and plaque from teeth, thoroughly cleaning the back teeth remains a challenge for most people.

Applying Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are an effective way to help prevent decay in young children and pre-teens. As your child’s first permanent molars come in, Dr. Eddleman will suggest this treatment method as an added measure of protection. The process of applying dental sealants is quick and painless. Sealants can be applied after a routine cleaning and exam. Below, we have listed the steps involved in the application process so you can know what to expect:

  • Our hygienist will place cotton rolls around the back molars to ensure the teeth are dry during the application.

  • An acid-etching solution will be applied to the chewing surface of the molars to prepare the surface for the resin coating.

  • The etching solution will be rinsed away and the teeth will be dried.

  • The hygienist will paint the clear resin coating on the chewing surface of the molars, making sure that it fills the grooves and crevices.

  • A blue light will be used to harden or cure sealant onto the tooth.

  • Children can resume normal eating, drinking, brushing and flossing routines.

Dental Sealants

Benefits of Dental Sealants

At Eddleman Dental, we know you want the best for your child’s oral health. The protective resin coating is most often used in children between the ages of 6 and 12 or when the permanent molars have fully erupted. Benefits of sealants include:

They offer protection from sticky plaque that contains cavity-causing bacteria.

This preventative treatment is easy, quick and painless for children and pre-teens.

Once the sealant has been cured, patients can resume normal eating and drinking.

The resin coating is clear and therefore unnoticeable when smiling, laughing and talking.

They provide a durable layer of protection that can easily withstand the normal forces of chewing and last for many years.

You can save money by reducing the probability of needing invasive and expensive dental work throughout childhood.

Proactively Fight Decay in Monroe, LA

While dental sealants are an effective way to prevent cavities in childhood, they cannot replace the benefits of maintaining an excellent hygiene routine at home. At Eddleman Dental, we encourage all of our patients to brush twice daily and floss every day for the best possible oral health results. If you would like to learn more about dental sealants or schedule a routine visit, request an appointment today.

smile transformations for a happy grandfather and grandson playing outside

Comprehensive Dental Care You Can Trust

Your Smile, Our Passion

Our friendly, welcoming team at Eddleman Dental is proud to offer a near-zero wait time with high-quality results using our advanced technology. We treat patients of all ages, and we love getting to know our patients and treating them like family.