LIBERTY
DENTAL PLAN
®
Dental Sealants for Teens
Care
Teen
LIBERTY cares about more than just teeth!
Dental sealants are a plastic material that is placed
in the pits and ssures of the chewing surfaces of your
teeth. Typically found on the molars at the back
because toothbrushes can’t reach all the way to
clean well.
Who needs dental sealants?
Kids and teens are especially known as bad brushers.
They tend to not take care of the problem areas in the
back of the mouth. This can lead to cavities, making them
the prime target market for sealants. (However, if adults have
certain problem areas that could be cured with sealants, this
could be an option for them too.) The American Dental Association
recommends that kids receive dental sealants as soon as their adult
teeth erupt.
Those who are more susceptible to cavities and decay – whether that is
because they are genetically prone to cavities, don’t have great oral hygiene
habits, or lack access to dental care – should consider getting dental sealants as a
preventative measure.
How do dental sealants work?
Dental sealants ll in and smooth out the grooves and ssures in your teeth that tend to hide food particles and
attract cavity-causing bacteria. According to the American Dental Association, sealants work by “’sealing out’ food
and plaque… [because] toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves.”
How long do dental sealants last?
Dental sealants can protect the teeth for up to 10 years but need to be checked frequently by a dentist for cracks. If
dental sealants are worn down, it’s possible for decay to get under the sealant.
Are dental sealants effective?
Dental sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of cavities in the teeth that are
covered. According to Jonathan Shenkin, a spokesman for the American Dental
Association, decades of research demonstrate that coating the biting surface
of 6-year molars with a resin-based sealant can reduce cavities by up to nearly
80% immediately, and up to 60% for four years or more.
Why don’t all children and teens get dental sealants?
The American Dental Association recommends that kids receive dental sealants
as soon as their adult teeth erupt, but less than 40% of dentists comply. Studies by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only 20% of children at
poverty level and 40% of kids from higher income homes get the sealants.
© 2019 LIBERTY Dental Plan Dental-Sealants-for-Teens-Eng RN 08 2019
www.libertydentalplan.com
Making members shine, one smile at a time
™
Dental sealants
protects teeth from
cavity-causing
bacteria
