{"id":2763,"date":"2016-04-09T07:47:24","date_gmt":"2016-04-09T11:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/?p=2763"},"modified":"2022-06-29T17:19:53","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T21:19:53","slug":"dental-sealants-safe-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/dental-sealants-safe-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Dental Sealants Safe for Children?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dental Sealants are a thin, plastic coating painted on the molars which are intended to act like armor for teeth but are they necessary?<\/p>\n

The\u00a0dentist approved by my insurance plan wants to seal my children's teeth because as they say, “they have deep grooves” where apparently cavities could<\/em> potentially<\/em> form in the future. \u00a0I clarify that he is the “dentist approved by my insurance plan” because I do not consider him MY dentist, not the dentist I would choose.<\/p>\n

While he's certainly very nice and extremely professional, I also think he is a very good salesman. He has thought of every possible way to examine, clean, photograph, x-ray, coat in fluoride, seal teeth and more. That's his job. He has kids and he says he feels that it is safe to x-ray his kids teeth with bitewings every year. Still, I feel uneasy.<\/p>\n

\"Dental<\/p>\n

What are dental Sealants?<\/h2>\n

Dental Sealants are a\u00a0thin, plastic coating painted on the molars fills in tiny indentations and\u00a0are intended\u00a0to act like armor for teeth, preventing cavities during the years kids are most prone to them (elementary age children).\u00a0One cause for\u00a0concern is that if a sealant is placed over molar surfaces that aren't completely\u00a0clean, it might trap decay underneath, which could create a bigger problem.<\/p>\n

Although most dentists agree that proper preparation of the tooth is crucial: the tooth must be cleaned, polished, disinfected, and dried before the seal is painted on. This requires the child being completely still during the procedure.<\/p>\n

“The most important consideration by far when placing sealants is\u00a0the ability to keep the tooth dry during the placement process<\/strong>,” says Joseph Howard, a\u00a0dentist in Wellington, Ohio. “It's very difficult to keep the tooth dry if the child is particularly squirmy<\/strong>, or if the surface of the tooth is hovering just at the gum line rather than out halfway.<\/p>\n

So the question parents should ask is, ‘Are you sure you can keep the tooth dry enough to ensure successful placement?'”\u00a0My kids are constantly moving. My kids do not like to sit still.<\/p>\n

Today in his office one of his assistants actually laughed at me for refusing a fluoride\u00a0treatment. She rolled her eyes and scoffed at me. It was the first time at this particular dentist office. Normally, the assistant we see (a different hygienist) is so friendly and polite. She just acknowledges our choice and moves on with the cleaning and exams.<\/p>\n

I have not consumed fluoride or had it applied to my teeth in well over two decades and do you know what every<\/strong> dentist\u00a0tells me every time I go for a checkup? “I wish all my patients took as good of care of their teeth as you do” and\u00a0\u00a0“your teeth look great!”<\/p>\n

I've had three cavities in my life and they were in my childhood.<\/strong> Read the story about how the dental fillings<\/a>\u00a0had a negative impact\u00a0on my health. \u00a0Growing up on a dairy farm in rural Tennessee we were not exactly well off. I can only remember going to the dentist one time, and that was when I had my fillings. It is possible<\/em> that I have forgotten some of the noneventful visits, but I really don't think my parents took us regularly. \u00a0That was before mandatory insurance, so I'm sure my parents didn't have the money to take us to the dentist, and frankly I'm glad!<\/p>\n

While my dad probably would have seen a lot of those procedures as unnecessary and opted out, who knows what all we would have had done to us back then. \u00a0I dislike going to the dentist not because I fear getting the work done, but because I dislike the pressure\u00a0to receive unnecessary procedures.<\/p>\n

In the past I've read books by Weston Price<\/a> and studied articles he has written to learn more about what actually causes tooth decay. More recently, I started studying how to remineralize teeth and I'm intrigued by the idea, so I have incorporated some of the methods into my dental routine at home.<\/p>\n

My focus right now is:\u00a0Are dental sealants\u00a0actually safe for my kids?<\/h3>\n

Sealants, which are usually applied to back teeth as barriers against decay-causing bacteria, may leach bisphenol-A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors have been linked to declining sperm counts and increased cancer rates in humans.(1<\/a>)<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Mercola parents should, “Avoid dental sealants for children, as they contain potent cancer-causing xenoestrogens. Many also contain high levels of fluoride.”(2<\/a>) ”<\/p>\n