Sometimes brushing is not enough. Everyone has hard-to-reach spots in their mouth and brushing doesn't always fully clean those difficult places. When that happens, you are at risk of tooth decay. Using sealants on your teeth gives you an extra line of defence against tooth decay.

Dental sealant is a plastic resin that bonds to the deep grooves in the tooth's chewing surface. When sealing a tooth, the grooves of your child's teeth are filled and the tooth surface becomes smoother — and less likely to harbour plaque. With sealants, tooth brushing becomes easier and more effective against tooth decay.

Sealants are usually applied to children's teeth as a preventive measure during the years of most likely tooth decay. However, adults' teeth can also be sealed. It is more common to seal "permanent" teeth rather than "baby" teeth, but every person has unique needs. Your child's dentist will recommend sealants on a case-by-case basis.

Sealants generally last from 2 years. However, it is fairly common to see adults with sealants still intact from their childhood. A dental sealant only provides protection when it is fully intact so if your child's sealant comes off you must let Dr. Tang know. Call us at (604) 575-7785 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Tang, your trusted pediatric dentist in Surrey and Vancouver BC.