{"id":9341,"date":"2019-12-19T11:26:45","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T10:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/?page_id=9341"},"modified":"2024-11-13T14:42:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T13:42:06","slug":"dental-sealant","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/babies-children\/dental-sealant\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Sealants to Protect Teeth: What Do They Cost and Are They Safe?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you have questions about dental sealants<\/strong>? The term may be unfamiliar but the good news is it’s a simple preventative procedure that’s performed to help protect teeth from decay. Best of all, it’s completely pain-free and what’s more, dental sealants for kids are free on Medicaid or CHIP.<\/p>

Tooth sealant is most often applied to children and teens when their adult teeth first erupt, but it’s not only children’s oral health that may benefit. In many cases, adults can have their teeth sealed too.<\/p>

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Back teeth with deep fissures are susceptible to decay<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div>

Here we’ll explain exactly what the pits and fissure sealant procedure involves, what it costs (both with insurance and privately), and what you should consider before going ahead.<\/p>

If you want to know more about children’s oral health, we have an entire collection of articles dedicated to dental care for babies and children<\/a>. <\/p>

Ask a dentist: Why are Dental Sealants so Important for Children?<\/strong> <\/div>
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When new molars appear in a child\u2019s mouth, they are highly susceptible to cavities. Based on the typical diet of a child and newly formed brushing habits, or lack thereof, cavities can be easy to come by in children between the age of 5-14. One of the best ways to help young molars prevent cavities is with dental sealants. <\/p>

This is a harmless filler that coats the teeth and prevents bacteria from causing decay. It will wear down and the effectiveness will decrease over time, so it is recommended that patients reapply every 2-4 years.<\/p>

The cost of dental sealants is about a third of the price on average of filling a cavity. Cavities can also lead to other problems such as loss of teeth, gum disease, and nerve damage, which can add to your dental costs over time. Dental sealants can be up to 80% more effective at cavity prevention for the first 2 years. <\/p>

Therefore, reapplying every couple of years can be a big saving for the parents and save a lot pain and issues for the children in the long run. It depends on the carrier, but insurance will often help offset the cost of sealants until the child is 18.<\/p>

Dr. William G. Rice, DDS<\/strong><\/strong>, William Rice Dental<\/strong><\/p>

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What are dental sealants?<\/h2>

Our back teeth (molars and premolars) have an irregular surface which helps us chew food. However, the fissures (grooves) and pits (small hollows) in the teeth are sometimes so deep that they trap food and plaque and are difficult to clean. Over time, this can lead to painful dental cavities<\/a>. This problem is quite common. In fact, the majority of tooth decay in children and young adults occurs on the biting surfaces of the back teeth.<\/p>

So what is a dental sealant?<\/p>

Dental sealant is also known as fissure sealant<\/strong> and is a procedure meant to partially fill any deep pits and fissures to make teeth easier to clean, thereby protecting against decay and reducing the likelihood of needing fillings later in life. Sealing teeth doesn’t make the biting surface completely smooth, but reduces the depth of natural grooves and holes. The video below gives a brief explanation of the dental sealant procedure:<\/p>

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