Dental Sealants for Children in Chicago, IL

Every mouth has difficult spots that can’t be reached easily through routine brushing – this is especially true for children, who are still learning how to properly care for their teeth outside of the dentist’s office. When certain areas on the teeth are missed and left uncleaned from day to day, tooth decay is able to take hold, resulting in cavities. Thankfully, our pediatric dentists at Growing Smiles can provide an extra touch of valuable protection for your loved ones with dental sealants. Contact our Chicago, IL practice today to schedule your child’s first check-up, or if you have any questions for our team.

What are dental sealants?

Dental sealants are made from viscous plastic resin material, and they’re designed to form a bond with the pits and grooves on a tooth’s chewing surfaces. Dr. Kristin, Dr. Reena, Dr. Paula, or Dr. Lexi will remove any bacteria and plaque from the biting surface grooves then effectively “seal” these areas shut, keeping dangerous food particles and bacteria out and stopping the progress of early-stage tooth decay that’s already in the area. We recommend dental sealants as a quality preventive service that’s often the right choice for permanent adult teeth and some “baby” teeth – it depends on the child’s unique needs.

It’s common for dental sealants to last anywhere from three to five years once placed, although many adults still have their sealants from childhood in place.  At each visit, we assess all sealants and restorations placed and will confirm they are clinically acceptable.  Please avoid chewing ice or hard candies regularly, to ensure a longer lifetime of the sealant.   Should there be any issues, we will make recommendations for necessary maintenance or replacement.