New York Dental insurance for Dental sealants:  I would like to get dental sealants on my teeth.  I am 28 but always seem to get cavities really easily even though I brush three times a day and floss daily.  I not sure what I doing wrong but the dentist advise me to get dental sealants. 

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My four year old has week teeth and has already two cavities.  We cut back on the sweet and I brush his teeth after lunch and before bed time.   The dentist said that I should think about putting on dental sealants to help protect his teeth from future cavities.   I do not have dental insurance and his dental care is getting to be expensive.  Any advise?

What are dental sealants?

Dental sealants are a plastic material applied to the back surfaces of the teeth to help prevent cavities.

Should children get dental sealants?

Dental sealants are important for children since they protect the top surface of the molars where pits and fissures are more prevalent and are susceptible to bacteria by getting trapped in the pits and fissures of the tooth which leads to the onset of cavities. The plastic material / dental sealant covers the top surface area of the molar. Your dentist needs to be consulted before you have any dental work done on children to ensure they are receiving the proper dental health care.

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Will sealants replace fluoride for cavity protection?

No. Fluorides, such as those used in toothpaste, mouth rinse, and community water supplies also help to prevent decay, but in a different way. Sealants keep germs and food particles out of the grooves by covering them with a safe plastic coating. Sealants and fluorides work together to prevent tooth decay.

Applying sealants does not require drilling or removing tooth structure. The process is short and easy. After the tooth is cleaned, a special gel is placed on the chewing surface for a few seconds. The tooth is then washed off and dried. Then, the sealant is painted on the tooth. The dentist or dental hygienist also may shine a light on the tooth to help harden the sealant. It takes about a minute for the sealant to form a protective shield.

Permanent molars are the most likely to benefit from sealants. The first molars usually come into the mouth when a child is about 6 years old. Second molars appear at about age 12. It is best if the sealant is applied soon after the teeth have erupted, before they have a chance to decay.

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.