As a dentist dedicated to the well-being of your family, I often tell parents that prevention is the absolute best form of medicine. When you walk into my office, my goal isn’t just to fix problems; it is to stop them from happening in the first place. One of the most powerful tools we have in our arsenal against tooth decay is the use of dental sealants. However, as science evolves, so does the way I practice. That is why I want to talk to you today about a very specific and important choice I have made for my patients: the exclusive use of BPA-free sealants for children.

I know that as a parent, you carefully read labels on food packaging and water bottles. You worry about what goes into your child’s body. I share that concern. Your child’s safety is my top priority, which is why I have taken a strict stance on the materials we use. In this post, I want to explain what sealants are, why they are vital for your child’s oral health, and why going BPA-free is the only option in my practice.

Understanding the Power of Dental Sealants

Before we dive into the ingredients, let’s look at why we use dental sealants in the first place. Imagine the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth (the molars). If you look closely, you will see they are not smooth. They are filled with tiny hills and valleys. These valleys are called pits and fissures.

While these grooves help us chew food, they are also perfect hiding spots for bacteria and food particles. The bristles of a toothbrush are often too thick to reach deep into these tiny cracks. Even if your child brushes perfectly twice a day, cavities can still form in these deep crevices. This is where sealants come in.

A dental sealant is a thin, protective coating that I paint onto these chewing surfaces. It bonds to the tooth and hardens, creating a smooth shield over the enamel. I often compare it to a raincoat for the tooth. Just as a raincoat keeps you dry during a storm, a sealant keeps the tooth dry and safe from the acid and bacteria that cause decay.

The effectiveness of this treatment is undeniable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in the permanent molars for two years after they are placed, and they continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years. That is a massive reduction in the risk of decay, meaning fewer fillings and less drilling for your child.

The Safety Conversation: What is BPA?

Now that we know why sealants are great, let’s talk about the chemistry. You have probably heard of BPA (Bisphenol A). It is a chemical that has been used since the 1960s to make certain plastics and resins. It is often found in polycarbonate plastics—the kind used in some water bottles and food storage containers—and in the lining of canned goods.

In recent years, BPA has become a topic of concern for health experts and parents alike. The primary worry is that BPA can act as an “endocrine disruptor.” In simple terms, this means it can mimic the hormone estrogen in the body. For adults, trace amounts might not be a major issue, but for children, whose bodies and hormonal systems are still developing, many parents and doctors prefer to exercise caution.

BPA in Dentistry

Historically, some dental materials have contained derivatives of BPA. It is important to clarify that BPA is rarely an ingredient itself in dental materials, but it can be a byproduct of other chemicals breaking down, or a trace impurity in the manufacturing process. Specifically, a compound called Bis-GMA is often used in composite resins and sealants.

While the American Dental Association and other regulatory bodies have stated that the low-level exposure from traditional dental materials is generally safe, I believe in taking a proactive approach. When it comes to your child, “generally safe” isn’t always enough for me. If there is a safer alternative available that works just as well, I am going to use it. That is why I strictly use BPA-free materials.

Why I Choose BPA-Free Sealants

My philosophy is holistic. I look at the whole patient, not just the tooth. When I apply dental sealants to a child’s teeth, I want the parents to have absolute peace of mind. By using BPA-free formulations, we eliminate the worry about potential hormonal disruptions or chemical leaching.

Here is why this decision matters for your family:

• The Precautionary Principle: In medicine, if we suspect a material might have side effects, even if they are minor, it is better to avoid it when a safer option exists. Using BPA-free sealants is a precaution I take to ensure we aren’t introducing unnecessary chemicals into your child’s system.
• No Compromise on Quality: Some people assume that “safer” or “natural” means less effective. In the world of modern dentistry, that is simply not true. The BPA-free sealants I use are incredibly durable. They bond tightly to the tooth structure and withstand the intense pressure of chewing just as well as, if not better than, traditional materials.
• Long-Term Health: We are treating children who have their whole lives ahead of them. By minimizing their cumulative exposure to environmental chemicals now, we are contributing to better long-term health outcomes.

The Application Process: Fast, Easy, and Painless

One of the reasons I love recommending dental sealants is that the procedure is incredibly easy for the child. There is no drilling, no shots, and no pain. It is a very positive way to introduce children to dental procedures without any anxiety.

Here is exactly what happens when you bring your child in for BPA-free sealants:

1. Cleaning the Tooth

First, I gently clean the tooth surface to make sure there is no plaque or food debris hiding in the grooves. We need a perfectly clean surface for the sealant to stick.

2. Conditioning

I apply a special gel to the surface of the tooth. This gel slightly roughens the microscopic surface of the enamel. Think of it like sanding a piece of wood before you paint it—it helps the paint stick better. This only takes a few seconds.

3. Rinsing and Drying

We rinse off the gel and dry the tooth completely. It is crucial that the tooth stays dry during the next step.

4. Painting the Sealant

I use a small brush to paint the BPA-free liquid sealant into the deep grooves of the tooth. It flows right into the pits and fissures.

5. Curing

Finally, I use a special blue light that shines on the tooth. This light hardens the sealant instantly. Within a minute, your child can chew on that tooth as normal.

The whole process takes only a few minutes per tooth. It is one of the fastest and most effective treatments in dentistry.

The Economics of Prevention

As a dentist, I also want to help you save money. Treating a cavity is always more expensive than preventing one. When a tooth gets a cavity, we have to drill away healthy tooth structure to remove the decay. Then we place a filling. Fillings are great, but they don’t last forever. They may need to be replaced every few years.

Sealants, on the other hand, are a fraction of the cost of a filling. By investing in dental sealants now, you are potentially saving thousands of dollars in future dental work. You are also saving your child from the discomfort of toothaches and the anxiety of more invasive procedures.

Consider this data point from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Children without sealants have almost three times more cavities in their first permanent molars than children with sealants. That statistic speaks volumes about the protective power of this simple treatment.

Who Should Get Sealants?

I generally recommend sealants for children as soon as their permanent molars come in.

• First Molars: These usually appear around age 6. Getting them sealed immediately protects them during the years when children are still learning to brush effectively.
• Second Molars: These usually appear around age 12. Sealing these offers protection right as children enter their teenage years, where diets often become higher in sugar and soda.

However, sealants aren’t just for kids! I also recommend them for teenagers and even adults who have deep grooves in their teeth and no history of decay. If your teeth have deep valleys, they are at risk, regardless of your age.

Addressing Common Myths

I sometimes hear misconceptions about sealants, and I want to clear those up right now.

Myth 1: You don’t need sealants if you brush well.
Even the best brushers cannot reach the bottom of a deep groove. The bristle of a toothbrush is essentially too fat to get into the microscopic crack. You can clean the surface, but you can’t clean the bottom of the fissure. Sealants fill that gap.

Myth 2: Sealants seal in bacteria.
Some parents worry that if there is a tiny bit of bacteria left, the sealant will trap it and cause a cavity to grow underneath. The reality is that if a very small, early-stage cavity is sealed over, the bacteria are cut off from their food source (sugar). Without food, the bacteria die, and the cavity stops growing. Of course, I thoroughly examine the tooth first to ensure we aren’t sealing over significant decay.

Myth 3: BPA-free sealants fall off easier.
This is simply not true anymore. Material science has advanced significantly. The BPA-free materials I use in my clinic have excellent retention rates. With proper care and regular check-ups, they can last for many years.

A Partnership for Health

When you choose a dentist, you are choosing a partner in your health journey. I take that responsibility seriously. By committing to BPA-free materials, I am making a promise to you that I will always put your child’s safety first.

I believe that modern dentistry should be safe, effective, and as natural as possible. We are lucky to live in a time where we have access to materials that protect our teeth without compromising our overall bodily health. Dental sealants are a miracle of modern preventative care, and by ensuring they are free from BPA, we make a great treatment even better.

If you want to read more about the general benefits of sealants from a trusted source, I recommend checking out this article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It provides excellent background information on why this treatment is a public health priority.

Lets Protect Those Smiles

Your child’s smile is precious. It is the first thing people see, and it plays a huge role in their confidence and health. I want to help you keep that smile cavity-free for life.

If your child is approaching age 6 or age 12, or if you just want to have their teeth evaluated for deep grooves, please come in and see us. We can check if they are candidates for sealants and discuss the BPA-free materials we use.

I love seeing my young patients grow up with healthy, pristine teeth, never having to experience the drill. That is the power of prevention. That is the power of safe, BPA-free dental sealants. Let’s work together to give your child the foundation for a lifetime of oral health.