cosmetic family dentistry the woodlands texas Dr. Bill Lockhart DDS

Dental Sealants

As your child's permanent teeth grow in, we can help seal out decay
by applying a protective coating to the back teeth, known as a
sealant. Sealants can reduce cavities as much as 90%. They help
protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, especially
the chewing surfaces of the back teeth that are difficult or impossible
to clean and where children most often develop cavities.

We paint a thin layer of a plastic like hard material on these teeth's
biting surfaces, thus filling in the grooves and providing a smooth
brushing area. Usually sealants are applied on permanent molars
right after eruption around the age of six. They last for many years
and protect teeth throughout the most cavity prone time. The
application of sealants is quick and comfortable, and is completed in
a single visit.

Lost or damaged sealants can easily be replaced and repaired. More
sealants are applied at the age of twelve with the growth of
additional molars.

Today, with good oral hygiene, regular dental care, proper diet, and
sealants, children have the opportunity to go through life cavity free.