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Dental Sealants - Is Your Child A Candidate?

By age 17, dental decay affects 78 percent of America's children, according to the National Center for Disease Control (CDC). Left untreated, dental decay, also known as cavities, may result in pain and infection.

One highly effective option to help prevent cavities is dental sealants-a thin plastic film painted on the chewing surface of molars and premolars.

Dental sealants are now a proven safe and cost-efficient dental procedure for patients prone to cavities. Even health care task forces are recognizing the benefits of dental sealants, recommending school-based programs according to a recent article in AGD Impact, the newsmagazine of the Academy of General Dentistry.

"Studies show many children are exceptional candidates for dental sealants. The national public health strategy for the next decade, Healthy People 2010, set a goal to have 50 percent of children receive dental sealants on their molar teeth," says Mark Ritz, DDS, MAGD, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing education.

"Parents should consider sealants as a preventative measure in their child's oral health and discuss this option with their dentist," encourages Dr. Ritz.

Surveys show 90 percent of all cavities occur in the narrow pits and grooves of a child's newly erupted teeth because food particles and bacteria are not easily cleaned out. A risk assessment by a dentist best determines who's a candidate for dental sealants.

Dental sealants act as a barrier to "seal-off" space between the tooth surface and any small food particles or bacteria that may otherwise cause a cavity in an "unsealed" tooth.

Paired with twice-daily brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste, a healthy diet and visiting the dentist twice a year to monitor the sealants' placement or bond on the tooth, properly applied dental sealants are 95 to100 percent effective in preventing pit and groove cavities.

"Remember that dental sealants do not protect against gum disease such as gingivitis, oral cancer or many common dental conditions," says Dr. Ritz. "Regular dental check-ups are vital to monitor overall oral health."

Benefits of Dental Sealants

Paired with good oral health care, 95 to 100 percent effective against cavities in pits and grooves that are sealed and properly maintained.
Minimally-invasive, proven safe and effective preventative procedure.
Costs less than getting a cavity filled.

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CONTACT: Susan Urbanczyk, public relations manager, at 312.440.4308 or media@agd.org or Jennifer Starkey, public relations coordinator, at 312.440.4341 or media@agd.org.

NOTE: Information that appears in General Dentistry, the AGD's peer-reviewed journal, AGD Impact, the AGD's newsmagazine and related press releases do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the AGD.

The Academy of General Dentistry is a non-profit organization of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patient's oral health needs.