Dental sealant is one of the most common preventive general dentistry treatments in America, with approximately 42% of children (ages 6 to 11 years old) and 48% of adolescents (ages 12 to 19 years old) having sealant on at least one tooth.
As a semi-permanent tooth coating, dental sealant protects the youngest smiles and supports tooth and gum health for a lifetime of healthy grins.
At Dogwood Dental Spa, Dr. Melissa Amos, DMD, combines 20 years of experience and a family legacy in dentistry to rewrite the story of dental anxiety, starting with our youngest patients.
What Is Dental Sealant?
Dental sealant in Waxhaw is a thin, liquid coating painted onto the grooves and chewing surfaces of your premolars and molars. Once applied, these sealants harden to protect the natural tooth and any hard-to-reach areas from bacteria, plaque, and cavities, to promote overall oral health.
Why Is Dental Sealant Important?
The deep pits and grooves of the molars often trap food and bacteria, increasing the likelihood of cavities. These teeth can be difficult to brush or floss, particularly for young children. Pediatric dental sealants prevent tooth decay as kids learn how to practice correct oral health habits.
Dogwood Dental Spa uses resin sealants, which stay bonded to targeted teeth at a rate of 80% after 2 years, compared to glass sealants’ 44%. We hold ourselves to the highest standard of care in our industry, so we choose the highest quality materials for your dental transformation.
Who’s an Ideal Candidate for Dental Sealant?
We recommend dental sealant in Waxhaw for patients aged 6 to 16 years old.
Children should receive dental sealant on premolars as soon as they are fully emerged, which may be as early as 6 years old. Repeat this process when the second molars come in around age 12. When dental professionals apply sealant at these ages, it can prevent up to 80% of cavities for up to 2 years (and 50% of cavities for up to 4 years).
Baby teeth with deep pits and grooves may need sealant. Although these baby teeth aren’t permanent, they set the foundation of oral health and make space for adult teeth.
Dental sealant is not a good option for partially emerged teeth or those with fillings or crowns—sealants are not only unhelpful but unnecessary on these teeth.
The Dental Sealant Experience at Dogwood Dental Spa
After making your child comfortable in our dental chair, Dr. Amos cleans, polishes, and dries each targeted tooth before isolating it from their gums and the skin inside their mouth, using cotton rolls or rubber dams to keep each tooth completely dry.
Next, she applies a liquid or gel “etching” solution and creates a rough texture on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This helps the resin sealant bond to the teeth, similar to the “score and slip” process used in pottery.
Dr. Amos rinses off the etching solution and dries the tooth before applying the dental sealant.
The entire procedure takes only a few minutes per tooth.
A Child-Friendly Dental Experience
It can be difficult to take the youngest family members to the dentist, but our compassionate team is available to help every step of the way. At Dogwood Dental Spa, we’re rewriting the story of dental anxiety, starting with our youngest patients.
Our welcoming, low-stress office combines genuine understanding with modern innovation. Dr. Amos delivers exceptional, compassionate care, making dental appointments a great experience for children.
Praise for Dogwood Dental Spa
The [Dogwood Dental Spa staff] was very friendly, professional, and welcoming, [with] excellent patient care and customer service. They do the little things like [asking] you what they can do to make your experience more comfortable, such as offering drinks, blankets, aromatherapy. ([The things] you don’t necessarily need, but [help you] to have the best experience). Very happy with my experience as a new customer.
Kimberly L.
Care Instructions
For optimal benefits, we recommend patients prepare their teeth before dental sealant in Waxhaw and begin proper maintenance techniques immediately following their appointments.
Parents, your younger children may need help with these steps.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Sealant
We understand that, as a parent, you want to be fully informed about your child’s dental care. That’s why Dr. Amos has compiled a list of frequently asked questions.
Is dental sealant painful?
No, dental sealant application is painless and non-invasive. The ideal candidates for dental sealant in Waxhaw are children ages 6 to 16, so Dr. Amos makes the procedure as efficient and comfortable as possible.
Patients may experience some mild discomfort as Dr. Amos works inside the mouth and dries the gums near the targeted teeth. Your child will feel better once they drink water so their gums are properly hydrated again.
Our dental team closely monitors each patient to mitigate discomfort. However, if your child experiences discomfort during the procedure, please have them notify us so we can adjust their care.
Related Article: What Can a Family Dentistry Dental Spa Do For You?
Why should my child get dental sealant? Aren’t their baby teeth going to fall out?
We understand that it may seem silly, or even pointless, to protect your child’s temporary teeth from cavities or other damage, because they will eventually be replaced by adult teeth.
However, we can’t stress enough the importance of pediatric dentistry. Your child’s baby teeth are crucial for lifelong oral health.
Even though they don’t last long, baby teeth:
- Act as placeholders for the permanent teeth developing under the gums
- Support proper speech, nutrition, and self-confidence
- Establish health habits early
With regular appointments, we can also monitor teething and tooth alignment to catch damage or decay early, reducing the chances of a child needing more expensive or invasive procedures down the road.
In fact, children aged 6 to 11 years old who don’t have dental sealants are 3x more likely to experience tooth decay.
Related Article: Is Professional Teeth Cleaning Worth It?
Besides dental sealant, how can I prevent cavities in my child’s teeth?
Prevent cavities in your child’s teeth by establishing healthy oral habits and making dental care a family priority.
- Establish a Routine: Set an alarm every morning and evening at the same time to brush your teeth. Schedule the nighttime alarm during your child’s bedtime routine; the more consistent you and your child are, the more likely this healthy habit sticks.
- Make Oral Hygiene Fun: Let your child choose a fun-colored toothbrush or tasty toothpaste. Try playing their favorite songs while you brush your teeth, and start a who-did-it-best brushing battle! Make brushing a favorite part of the day to encourage consistent behavior.
- Add Fluoride: Replace your child’s toothpaste with one with a high fluoride concentration, or provide fluoridated water. Contact your local water plant to learn about the fluoride content of your local water supply.
- Limit Foods High in Sugar: We aren’t suggesting removing all sugar from your child’s diet, but limiting foods and drinks high in sugar or acid, such as juice, soda, and candy, can reduce the likelihood of developing cavities. When your child does consume these foods, make them part of a meal, and brush and rinse their teeth immediately after.
What should I do if my child has a dental emergency?
At Dogwood Dental Spa, we know life can come at you fast, and emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. If you or your child experience a dental emergency, we offer timely emergency appointments when you need us the most.
Contact our office and inform us about the nature of your dental emergency, and we’ll schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Related Article: Dental Emergency? Here’s 6 Ways We Can Help You!
Protect the Smallest Smiles
All teeth—from baby teeth to permanent ones—create a lifetime of happy, healthy grins. Dental sealant in Waxhaw protects those hard-to-reach teeth and prevents oral decay and discomfort, keeping even the smallest smiles safe.
Deciding whether dental sealant in Waxhaw is right for your family can be a difficult process, and we’re committed to making your choice as stress-free as possible. Dogwood Dental Spa’s welcoming, spa-like atmosphere is the perfect place to decide the next step in your dental journey.
Looking for dentistry for the whole family? Answer a few simple questions using our virtual consultation tool and see every option, from dental crowns to dentures.
Affordable Dental Care
Enjoy peace of mind with Dogwood Dental Spa’s membership plans, which feature affordable options for comprehensive dental care. Our memberships make it easy to prioritize the oral health of every member of your family while saving on routine and preventative treatments.
Our yearly child membership includes:
- 2 cleanings
- 2 routine exams
- Yearly X-rays
- Emergency exams
- Fluoride treatment
- 15% savings on all other dental treatments, including dental sealant in Waxhaw
