What Is a Preventive Dental Sealant?
Timing is important. Permanent first molars begin to erupt around the age of six, while second molars erupt between the ages of eleven and thirteen. The first few months after the tooth becomes visible in the mouth are the most suitable time, while the grooves do not yet show signs of decay. In children at high risk of cavities, sealants can also be applied to primary molars.
Who Is It Suitable For?
Whether a preventive sealant is suitable for your child is not determined by a single factor. We assess together how much of the tooth has erupted, the depth of the grooves on the chewing surface, your child’s history of cavities, and how consistently home care can be maintained. If there are newly erupted molars. Permanent molars erupt around the age of six. The first few months after the tooth becomes visible in the mouth are the most suitable time for treatment, while the grooves do not yet show signs of decay. If the grooves are narrow and deep. In some children, the grooves are too narrow for toothbrush bristles to enter. If this is observed during the examination, a sealant is considered a priority option because it is not possible to keep that surface clean through brushing alone. The dentist examines the chewing surface for early signs of decay, assesses the shape of the grooves, and checks how much of the tooth has erupted. Imaging may be requested if necessary. If the tooth has not fully erupted. If part of the chewing surface is still covered by gum tissue, the surface cannot be dried completely and the sealant will not adhere. In this case, we wait for the tooth to erupt fully.
Why Papatya Dental Clinic?
Preventive care for children is a discipline in its own right At Papatya Dental, preventive treatments for children are not carried out as a scaled-down version of an adult protocol. Each child’s cavity risk is assessed individually, and the decision to place a sealant is based on this assessment rather than being treated as a routine procedure. Every treated tooth, the material used, and the examination findings are recorded, allowing the sealant’s longevity to be monitored by comparison with previous records rather than estimated. The first experience in the dental chair matters as much as the treatment itself Because a preventive sealant does not involve drilling or injections, it is often the first procedure through which children become familiar with the dentist. We plan this appointment without rushing: if the child is not ready to cooperate, the procedure is paused or rescheduled for another day. A child’s first relationship with dentistry shapes their cooperation with treatment over the next twenty years. A multidisciplinary team under one roof Our specialist dentists in periodontology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and cosmetic dentistry work at the same clinic. If we identify a finding beyond preventive sealing during your child’s examination, we arrange an internal referral to the relevant dentist, so the family does not need to be sent to another clinic. Follow-up across borders, in seven languages For families living in Antalya and those visiting from abroad, we provide care in seven languages. Families returning to their home country receive records showing the treated teeth, the materials used, and the examination findings, allowing follow-up to continue seamlessly with another dentist.