Dental sealants – a great way to protect children’s teeth

Dental hygienist Kelly Davis shines a curing light into the mouth of Julian Rosario.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and one of the biggest challenges to children’s dental health is tooth decay.

Untreated tooth decay remains a problem for about one-third of people across all age groups.  About 16 percent of children age 2 to 4 have untreated tooth decay.  In fact, tooth decay remains one of the most common of childhood diseases, five times as common as asthma in children 5 to 17 years old.  By age 17, 78 percent of young people have had a cavity and 7 percent have lost at least one permanent tooth.

“It’s a major problem,” said Kelly Davis, a registered Dental Hygienist at The Resource Center.  “It’s heartbreaking for me to see children’s teeth so decayed and in such poor condition.”

Between the ages of 5 and 7, children start to get their first permanent molars, called their 6-year molars.  Dentists recommend putting dental sealants on those molars.  Sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth in an effort to prevent cavities.  Sealants are applied to teeth through the use of a handheld curing light.  The curing light emits a blue light that hardens the sealant so that it can withstand the forces of chewing.

Experts also advise that sealants be placed on the second set of permanent molars, called 12-year molars, which typically come in between the ages of 11 and 14.

Sealants can last up to 10 years, but they should be replaced every three years if needed.  A sealant normally costs between $40 and $50 dollars a tooth, compared to $80 to $220 for a filling.  And while teens and young adults who are prone to cavities may also need sealants, Medicaid and most insurances typically only cover the cost of sealants until a person is 14.

Dentists say sealants are a great alternative to traditional silver fillings.

“Having a filling is not very nice and can cause pain at any stage,” said Dr. Anne Shear, a Dentist at The Resource Center.  “So, sealants are the best way to go to give your child extra protection from cavities.”

Dr. Shear added that the longer the delay in treatment of dental disease, the more expensive and costly it becomes.

“In school-aged children, a preventative and noninvasive sealant application costs $49 per tooth under the Medicaid program, but the same tooth allowed to deteriorate over time might incur restorative treatment in the form of fillings at the cost of $77 to $212,” she noted.  “Left to further decay, the same tooth may require a root canal at $470 to $742, depending on the location of the tooth.  Often, a crown is necessary after root canal treatment, costing an additional $700 to $800.”

An estimated 51 million school hours per year are lost in the United States because of dental-related illnesses.  To help curb that, New York State law now requires public schools to ask for a dental health certificate of pupils as they enter kindergarten, second, fourth, seventh, and 10th grades, declaring their dental health condition.

Dental sealants are just one way to protect your teeth.  Here are some others:

• Brush your teeth twice a day to remove plaque.  If plaque is not removed, it can lead to cavities.
• Floss daily to remove food particles from places your toothbrush can’t reach.
• Eat healthy and nutritious foods, and reduce or eliminate sugary drinks.
• Visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.
• Wear a mouth guard when playing sports.

The Resource Center operated Dental Clinics in Dunkirk and Jamestown.  The Dunkirk Dental Services office is located at 314 Central Avenue and is open from 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Thursday and 8:00 to 4:30 Friday.  Opened in 2002, the office has expanded the number of dental chairs to seven and comes equipped with up-to-date, state-of-the-art equipment.  The practice features Dr. Jill Wierchowski and Dr. John Vona.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, phone 366-1661.

The Jamestown Dental Services office is located at 896 East Second Street.  Besides Dr. Shear, Dr. Douglas Larson and Dr. Amie McCarthy are the practice’s dentists.  The Jamestown office also performs dental sealants.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, phone 661-1431.