Dental Sealants
As an additional preventive option, we offer dental sealants. Sealants are used to further protect the biting surface of molars from plaque buildup and decay by “sealing” hard-to-brush areas of the tooth, such as creases, cracks, and small grooves where bacteria can take root. Sealants are most commonly used once the permanent teeth have erupted, but they can also be applied to primary teeth, as needed. This measure offers between three and five years of protection, although sometimes sealants can last much longer. To prevent breakdown of sealants, avoid chewing on anything excessively hard (ice cubes, pen caps, popcorn kernels) or sticky (gummies, jolly ranchers, lollipops, taffy, etc.).
Mouthguards and Nightguards
There are many reasons why a child might need a mouthguard, a nightguard, or both. Children who play competitive sports and other recreational activities that involve contact can protect their smiles with a mouthguard. A nightguard is particularly helpful if a child has TMJ disorder (dysfunction of the jaw joint) or bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding). If your child wakes up with headaches, jaw and tooth pain, or other signs of bruxism, we can create a customized nightguard to protect their teeth while they sleep. Grinding and clenching can cause severe wear and tear, cracks, chips, and even tooth loss, so it’s important to minimize damage with a nightguard.