{"id":225069,"date":"2026-10-26T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T10:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citylifeinstitute.it\/?p=225069"},"modified":"2026-10-29T10:36:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T10:36:21","slug":"dental-sealants-and-fluoride-when-they-are-used-on-childrens-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citylifeinstitute.it\/en\/sigillature-dentali-e-fluoro-quando-servono-ai-denti-dei-bambini\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental sealants and fluoride: when are they needed and why do they protect children's teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many parents, when talking about prevention of tooth decay in children<\/strong>, They ask me: <\/span>Can we do something to prevent it from forming, instead of intervening when the tooth has already been stained?<\/span><\/i> My answer is yes!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prevention naturally begins with daily oral hygiene, nutrition, and regular check-ups, but at certain points in growth we can complement these with specific tools such as: <\/span>Dental sealants and fluoride prophylaxis<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are different procedures with different indications, but they all have the same goal: <\/span>protecting the teeth during the phases in which they are most exposed to the risk of tooth decay<\/b>. For this reason, I do not consider prevention to be a uniform protocol for everyone, but rather a path that must be calibrated according to the child, based on their habits and their personal risk of developing cavities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are children's teeth particularly susceptible to tooth decay?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Caries is one multifactorial pathology<\/strong>. Its appearance depends on the interaction between the bacteria present in the oral cavity, diet, frequency of sugar intake, characteristics of the teeth, quality of hygiene, and other individual factors.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, prevention does not only concern milk teeth. <\/span>A particularly important moment is coming around 6 years old<\/strong>, When the first permanent teeth begin to appear. Among these are the <\/span>first permanent molars<\/b>, These teeth erupt after the last milk teeth and do not replace any deciduous element.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is an important detail, because it can happen that a parent does not immediately realize that that new molar is already a permanent tooth. Moreover, the chewing surface of the molars naturally has grooves that resemble the grooves of a permanent tooth. <\/span>wrinkles and furrows<\/b>. When these irregularities are deep, <\/span>They can retain plaque and food residues<\/b> and they are difficult to reach with a toothbrush. It is precisely in situations like this that we can evaluate the\u2019<\/span>utility of seals<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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FIND OUT HOW TO IDENTIFY AND TREAT CAVITIES IN MILK TEETH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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What are dental sealants in children?<\/b><\/h2>\n

La <\/span>Sealing of the teeth<\/b> It is a preventive procedure that consists of\u2019<\/span>application<\/b> of a specific one <\/span>protective material<\/b> within the grooves and furrows present on the surface of the tooth. The purpose is simple: to create a barrier that makes these areas less easily colonized by plaque and easier to keep clean.<\/span><\/p>\n

The guidelines consider seals to be an effective tool in <\/span>Prevention of tooth decay<\/b> of the occlusal surfaces of the molars, in children and adolescents. However, this does not mean \u201ccovering\u201d the entire tooth. The material targets the anatomical irregularities of the masticatory surface that present a higher risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the child, the procedure is simple: the tooth is cleaned, prepared, kept dry, and the sealing material is applied in the grooves. We are not treating a cavity and, when intervening on a healthy tooth for preventive purposes, <\/span>It is not necessary to remove dental tissue to perform a normal seal<\/b>. This aspect reflects well the way I intend prevention: intervening in a targeted manner before it becomes necessary to carry out a more invasive therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n

At what age are dental fillings made?<\/b><\/h2>\n

There is no standard age for every child. The timing depends primarily on the eruption of the teeth and on the individual risk of caries. A key milestone generally coincides with the appearance of the first tooth. <\/span>first permanent molars, around 6 years of age<\/b>. Subsequently, the other permanent teeth that have particularly deep grooves and furrows can also be evaluated.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most recent guidelines emphasize the importance of considering the risk of tooth decay and the characteristics of each individual tooth, not just age. This is one of the reasons why I recommend not waiting for a noticeable problem to appear before taking a child to the dentist.<\/span><\/p>\n

La <\/span>First visit to the dentist<\/b><\/a> It allows children to begin this process earlier: getting to know the little patient, gradually getting them accustomed to the dental environment, monitoring their hygiene and observing the eruption of their teeth over time means being able to identify the right time to intervene, if necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does sealing the molars mean that they will no longer decay?<\/b><\/h2>\n

No, and it is important to clarify this. The sealing protects primarily <\/span>scratches and grooves on the chewing surface on which it is applied<\/b>. It does not make the tooth immune to decay and does not replace either the toothbrush or proper eating habits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caries can also develop in other areas of the tooth, for example on the interproximal surfaces, that is, between one tooth and another. For this reason, I consider the Sealing<\/strong> of teeth<\/strong> as part of a broader preventive strategy, which includes:<\/span><\/p>\n