Big Smiles Family Dentistry Places Sealants on Teeth for Better Protection

GARLAND, Texas - Nov. 22, 2016 - PRLog -- Big Smiles Family Dentistry

Walnut Street: (214) 703-3700

Broadway Boulevard: (469) 443-0339

www.bigsmilesfamilydentistry.com

Big Smiles Family Dentistry Places Sealants on Teeth for Better Protection

On October 18, 2016, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) declared that dental sealants are a critical part of pediatric dentistry and that they wished to see the use of them expanded to more children. This push to place sealants on children's molars comes as no surprise to Dr. Arthur Henegar, who has run a family practice for years in Garland. Placing sealants is one of the most common procedures he performs for children and is one of the best things that can be done to prevent problems later in life.

The molars have wide chewing (or "occlusal") surfaces which have lots of tiny fissures in them. These natural dents in the teeth's surface are difficult even for adults to keep clean of food and bacteria. Children are at an extremely high risk of developing cavities, and rather than fight a losing battle to keep the surfaces of their new molars completely clean, it is often better to simply pave over the deepest fissures.

Sealants can be placed on molars as soon as they fully erupt, and it is usually wise to do so. Following a normal cleaning, the dentist will apply a mildly acidic gel to the teeth's surface in order to roughen them up. This process, called etching, is also used for the application of veneers and braces and is extremely unlikely to cause anything more than a tingling, gritty sensation. It simply allows the teeth to better grip whatever is being applied to them. The sealant is usually a glass or plastic resin, which may be white or clear, depending on the materials. It is dried with a light, and after a few hours, the teeth may be used normally.

Dental sealants complement, instead of replacing, brushing, flossing, and fluoridation, but studies show them to be highly effective. According to the CDC, (http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/dental-sealants/index.html) sealants protect against 80% of cavities for the first two years after they are applied, and 60% for the first four years. Protecting children's molars during this crucial period can spare them from needing root canals or crowns later on, but adults can have sealants placed, as well. Preventive care is one of the chief concerns at Big Smiles Dentistry and given the importance of the molars to overall oral and digestive health Dr. Henegar is proud to provide them to the community's families.

Arthur Henegar, DDS, operates Big Smiles Family Dentistry at 5826 Broadway Blvd, Suite 100, which can be reached at 469-443-0339, and 3460 W Walnut St, Suite 600, which can be reached at 214-703-3700, both in Garland, Texas. To set up an appointment, visit BigSmilesFamilyDentistry.com (http://www.bigsmilesfamilydentistry.com/) and fill out a contact sheet (http://www.bigsmilesfamilydentistry.com/contact-us/).