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Dental Sealants Who Should Get Dental Sealants? How Can I Get Dental Sealants for My Children? The Argument for Dental Sealants Dental Sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Germs in the mouth use the sugar in food to make acids that can create a cavity in the tooth over time. Sealants prevent these acids from penetrating the tooth. If a small cavity is accidentally covered by a sealant, the decay will not spread because it is sealed off from its food and germ supply. Even though dental sealants have been around since the 1960s, fewer than 25 percent of children in the United States have sealants on their teeth. Sealants are put on in dentists' offices, clinics, and sometimes in schools. Getting sealants put on is simple and painless. Sealants are painted on as a liquid and quickly harden to form a shield over the tooth. Sealants can last up to 10 years, but should be checked regularly by a dental professional. A dentist or dental hygienist can repair chipped or worn sealants by adding more sealant material.
The most important reason for getting sealants is to avoid tooth decay. Fluoride in toothpaste and in drinking water protects the smooth surfaces of teeth but back teeth need extra protection. Sealants cover the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and keep out germs and food. The chewing surfaces of back teeth are rough and uneven because they have small pits and grooves. Food and germs can get stuck in the pits and grooves and stay there a long time because toothbrush bristles cannot brush them away. Having sealants put on teeth before they begin to decay also saves time and money in the long run by avoiding fillings, crowns, or caps used to fix decayed teeth. Who Should Get Dental Sealants? Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as the teeth come in - before decay attacks the teeth.
How Can I Get Dental Sealants for My Children? Ask your dentist, state or local dental society, or local health department about getting dental sealants. Check with your child's school about whether it has a dental sealant program. Many schools in Oregon qualify for sealant programs, which provide sealants for free. Sometimes health or dental insurance or Medicaid programs may pay for sealants. The Argument for Dental Sealants Cavities, or dental caries, remains the most prevalent childhood disease and continues to take a heavy toll on children's health and well-being across certain socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic groups. From all available data it is clear that inadequate access to dental care is commonplace for children of families living in poverty despite tremendous advances in prevention. In Oregon, dental disease continues to be a significant health problem for segments of this population. Low-income individuals have substantial amounts of disease and limited access to dental care. The 2002 Smile Survey found that more than 56% of Oregon children aged six to eight have a history of dental caries. Nearly one in four (24%) Oregon children surveyed had untreated dental decay, and children from low-income families were 2.5 times more likely to have untreated dental decay. Serious tooth decay in children affect their fundamental well-being and sense of self. Children with unmet dental needs suffer the daily distraction of chronic toothaches, the acute and searing pain of dental abscesses, disfigured smile, dysfunctional speech, and difficulty eating. For every one hundred school children, 5.7 days of school, on average, are lost due to dental disease. In Oregon, that average translates to nearly 52,000 missed school days because of dental problems in 2002. Children with dental decay who lack access to dental care are often not brought to seek care until decay is severe. More often than not, this results in very expensive, invasive, and drastic measures to address the problem, and usually involves a visit to the Emergency Room. Clearly, dental caries are well worth preventing. Although dental sealants are relatively inexpensive and are known to be an efficient means of preventing caries, they are underused in Oregon. In 2002, only 31% of all second-grade respondents had sealants. Among third-graders eligible for free or reduced lunch at schools, only 42% received sealants. Among non-white and/or Hispanic children, only 45% received sealants. Schools have proven to serve as an innovative access point for children to receive sealants. In schools, children are not removed from the comfort of a familiar environment, and are less anxious and fearful of receiving a dental procedure, albeit a painless one. More importantly, all children (for whom parents or guardians have consented) receive a screening, and every child needing sealants may receive them. Children are not stigmatized by being singled out during the screening and sealing process. Program Contact CLICK HERE for a listing of resources related to dental sealants. |
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