Sealants Vs. Fillings in Pediatric Dentistry
Keeping your child's teeth healthy while he is young gives him a good start on a lifetime of dental health. This includes regular check-ups by your dentist, helping your child learn to brush and floss his teeth correctly, and catching any problems early on. Some dentists recommend sealants as a way to prevent tooth decay and the possible need for fillings.
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Identification
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According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, sealants are a type of plastic painted on the teeth to serve as a barrier. They are applied without drilling or pain. On the other hand, fillings are used to replace missing parts of a tooth after a cavity has been drilled out. Fillings come in two main types: silver and tooth colored.
Function
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A sealant covers a tooth and helps keep it safe from food particles and bacteria. Fillings cover the hole that was made during cavity removal, replacing the missing tooth enamel. It then protects the more vulnerable structures of the inside of the tooth, much in the same way as tooth enamel.
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Considerations
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Sealants alone may not prevent cavities, but they will help protect the tooth if something is missed during routine brushing. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, tooth-colored fillings are not a good option for every tooth. They are best used to fill cavities on teeth or areas of a tooth that don't do the brunt of work. They are also better used on small cavities. Tooth-colored fillings are often preferred because they are harder to distinguish from your regular teeth, but they are not as strong as silver fillings.
Time Frame
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Your dentist may suggest having sealants placed on your child's teeth after his permanent molars grow in, starting around ages 6 to 8. Some insurance companies place age restrictions on coverage for the procedure. Fillings are only used after a cavity has to be drilled out; therefore, not every child will need fillings. These can be used at almost any age after a cavity has developed.
Risks
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Sealants are generally thought of as safe. There is a risk of "sealing in" a small, undetected cavity but, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, this will not harm the tooth. Instead it will help keep the cavity from other food particles and bacteria, which would usually allow it to grow. There has been concern in recent years about the mercury in silver fillings; however, there are no proven risks to those who have had these fillings used, according to Colgate.
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References
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