Dental Sealants
Dental sealants provide extra protection against cavities. Even if you or your child have excellent dental hygiene, a cavity may be an issue from time to time. The grooves within our teeth are great places for plaque and bacteria to collect. The toothbrush often glides over them, leaving decay-causing material sitting on the tooth. It can be difficult to clean these groves every time we brush thoroughly. Over time, these grooves can deepen as acids from foods and bacteria eat away at them. Dental sealants provide a great solution, adding protection in areas your toothbrush may not have adequately covered.
What is a Dental Sealant?
A sealant is an excellent preventive therapy that helps to protect teeth and prevent decay and disease. The sealant coats and seals the teeth, providing a quick, comfortable way to protect against cavities. It prevents food and bacteria from getting into the tooth grooves where decay occurs, often on molar chewing surfaces. A sealant can be long-lasting and match your natural tooth color to help beautify your smile.
Dental Sealants for Kids
Children are often the best dental sealant candidates. They are prone to cavities during their formative years. As we all know, children love snacks and sweets. Children especially tend to eat throughout the day. Combining a poor diet with poor dental hygiene can cause cavities to increase. Tooth decay appears in different stages, though even a small cavity needs a filling. Sealants are a great preventative way to prevent a minor cavity. A child might not be as tolerant of sitting in the dentist’s chair or dental treatment discomfort as an adult. We recommend sealants before children develop cavities or tooth decay. Here Are Some Dental Sealant Advantages
- Sealants are safe and non-invasive.
- Sealants are cost-effective.
- They literally can take only a few minutes to apply.
- Sealants are durable and long-lasting
- No drilling or shots are necessary.
- Sealants make teeth smooth and easy to clean.
What is the Dental Sealant Procedure?
Sealant application is painless and can take your dentist just a few minutes. The dentist will:
- Clean and dry the tooth or teeth.
- Prepare the tooth surface for the sealant by placing a gel on the tooth.
- Rinse off the gel and dry the tooth.
- Place the liquid plastic sealant within the tooth grooves.
- Use special blue light to harden the sealant material.
What to Expect After Dental Sealant Treatment
Though sealants provide excellent, extra cavity protection, they don’t mean you’ll no longer need to practice good dental hygiene habits. For example, you’ll still need to brush and floss as usual. Like with anything, sealants can wear over time. Your dentist can check your sealant condition during regular checkups to ensure they are still intact. If needed, they can reapply the sealant to ensure no new decay can start underneath it. They typically last a very long time, often several years, before they need reapplication. Studies have shown that sealants can last for up to a decade.
Do Adults Need Sealants?
Anyone can get a dental sealant, including adults. If you have teeth that already have significant decay or filings, you might also benefit from a sealant. Your dentist can evaluate your teeth to determine which teeth would benefit from sealants. Sealants work best on teeth with pits and fissures deep enough for the sealant to settle.
