Society has changed in recent years, particularly in the US. Children are often given sugar-laden foods for lunch and sugary beverages to drink. This is because they’re easily accessible, non-perishable, and convenient – but it does more harm than good! If you want your child’s teeth to stay healthy as possible when their first tooth appears at around age 5 or 6 (usually on the first molars), give them chewy vitamins that stick in mastication surfaces instead of candy bars with high levels of acidity, which can cause a cavity. Read on to understand how Dental Sealants work, what they’re made of, and why they should be considered as an option for your family’s oral care routine!
What are Dental Sealants Applied on Chewing Surfaces?
Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings placed on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, mainly in the premolars and back molars. They are generally clear or white and can’t be seen during activities like smiling or talking. Sealants are also a preventive dental treatment that can protect the teeth from cavities. Sealants work by filling in any gaps between the tooth and its surrounding enamel, making it more difficult for food particles to get stuck inside.
Early intervention is crucial in oral disease control and prevention. By catching problems before they begin, you can avoid expensive future dental procedures, especially for kids. One effective way of doing this is through sealants. As a Murfreesboro family dentistry, we recommend dental sealants to kids once their first permanent molars pop in since they make their teeth healthy and strong.
How the Dental Sealants Procedure Work in Pits and Fissures?
The dental sealants procedure is quick and painless, so it’s an excellent option for the entire family. And with no need for anesthesia or drilling into your teeth, you can have it done right at home. The only downside to the sealants dental treatment is that it’ll cost more than regular dental cleanings and x-rays, but the investment is worth it in the long run.
The sealant is put on top of the tooth’s chewing surface, and a light-cured resin material is applied to provide an adhesive. After this, your dentist will use ultraviolet lights to harden or cure the resin into place. The process takes about 15 minutes for each tooth to be treated, but you’ll need x-rays taken before and after the dental sealants procedure to ensure it was done correctly.
Sealants can be used in place of a filling for teeth where cavities are already developing or as an additional tool when treating oral health patients with rampant decay. In either case, dental sealants provide added protection from tooth decay and should help save you money on fillings down the road.
But what are sealants made of? According to the American Dental Association, its made from plastic or other sealants dental materials that adhere to the chewing part of your teeth. However, they are not a substitute for regular flossing and brushing; dental sealants protect cavities from forming and stop the initial stages of tooth decay.
Dental Sealants for Adults
Do you doubt whether adults can benefit from sealants? Yes, the American Dental Association states that adults can apply sealants too. It’s temporary. They need to be replaced after 5 to 10 years. Dental sealants for adults are an excellent option that can significantly benefit your oral health. Our Murfreesboro dental office will be happy to discuss and answer any queries you have regarding dental sealants for adults or any other issue impacting your oral health.
Dental Sealants for Kids: Safeguarding Your Children’s Teeth
If your kid has deep pits and fissures on their molars, your family dentist can recommend your child to benefit from sealants. When such sealants are applied to them, it helps to prevent further tooth decay.
Even if your kid practices excellent dental hygiene habits, it is not always easy to brush or floss on the chewing surfaces of the molars. Germs and food particles can get trapped in the deep grooves where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This may cause a cavity to develop on the chewing surface of your tooth. Your dentist may recommend sealants for kids for second and first permanent molars.
But how is the process of dental sealants for kids like? First, your dentist will clean the kid’s teeth to remove all the germs and food particles inside the deep grooves. Next, he will apply a special gel on their chewing surface and afterward rinse with water. Your child’s tooth is dried and later painted with an aqueous dental sealant material which will set on its own after a few minutes.
Dental sealants are generally white, clear in color, and thus cannot be visible when your kid talks or smiles. Your kid’s bite may feel a little different after a sealant has been applied, and that’s normal, depending on the kind of material used.
Dental Sealants Help Prevent Tooth Decay
Although proper flossing and brushing can eliminate plaque and trapped food particles from the chewing surfaces of your tooth, they cannot reach the deep fissures in your molars to get rid of plaque and food particles. Dental sealants protect these vulnerable areas from decay by sealing out germs and stuck food particles.
Here are some crucial benefits of dental sealants in gum disease control and prevention:
- Dental sealants provide protective coverage to prevent plaque and food particles from accumulating in the hard-to-reach areas in your molars.
- They provide the much-needed support for your dental care routine.
- Dental sealants can be maintained or repaired quickly.
