Getting to Know About Dental Sealants and Their Significance

Getting to Know About Dental Sealants and Their Significance

Mar 01, 2021

Do you have small pits or grooves on your teeth? Your dentist might recommend tooth sealants. Below is all you need to know about dental sealants and their importance.

Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of developing tooth decay. Tooth decay can cause small pits on your teeth enamels. If tooth decay progresses, you might be at risk of further complications such as root canal infection, gum disease, and bone loss.

Therefore, if you have signs of dental cavities, your dentist might recommend treatments to seal them. Apart from having dental cavities, grooves on your back teeth can increase the risk of tooth decay. Grooves on your molars and premolars harbor food particles that decompose to form plaque and tartar, increasing the risk of decay and other complications.

To prevent such dental problems, your dentist might recommend tooth sealants.

How Do Tooth Sealants Work?

When bacteria in your mouth meet food particles, they infest, causing decay. The decay of the food particles releases agents that corrode your enamels, forming tooth cavities. Tooth sealants act as a preventive film that covers the chewing parts of your teeth. By covering the tooth enamel and pits on your teeth, tooth sealants prevent tooth decay.

Who Is Eligible for Tooth Sealants?

Before getting tooth sealants, your dentist will check your teeth to ensure they are suitable treatments. Anyone, including children and adults, can benefit from getting tooth sealants. However, it is advisable to get tooth sealants at an early age.

Getting tooth sealants earlier keeps your teeth from decay and cavities. However, you might not be eligible for tooth sealants if you have large dental cavities. Therefore, you can ask your dentist if tooth sealants are reliable treatments for you and your family.

Applying Tooth Sealants

When you decide to get dental sealants, you can visit the dentist near you for a consultation. During the consultation, your dentist will check your teeth’ condition and recommend the most suitable treatment.

If you are getting tooth sealants, the procedure is painless. Therefore, you might not need local anesthesia. Your dentist will start by cleaning your teeth and dry them. Next, the dentist will apply an acidic gel on your teeth to etch them. Etching your teeth enables bonding with the sealing material.

Your dentist will then apply the sealing material and leave it to bond. Sometimes, the dentist might use a laser to harden the sealing material.

Why Are Dental Sealants Important?

You probably know about tooth sealants. However, do you the significance of getting tooth sealants? Below are some of the reasons why your dentist might recommend tooth sealants:

Preventing Tooth Decay and Cavities

Dental grooves increase the risk of tooth decay since they harbor plaque and tartar deposits. Tartar and plaque on your teeth facilitate decay which leads to the formation of dental cavities. The dental cavities can progress to root canal infections, gum disease, and bone loss.

Tooth sealants protect the chewing part of your teeth from corrosion. Therefore, when you get tooth sealants, you can reduce the risk of the above dental problems.

Improving Your Smile

Tooth decay and cavities on your teeth affect your smile. Tooth decay will affect the color and the shape of your teeth. Sometimes, you might feel uncomfortable smiling around strangers due to your teeth’ appearance.

However, if you have tooth sealants, you can keep your teeth beautiful and healthy. When your dentist is applying the sealant material, they can choose one that matches your natural tooth color. Therefore, the sealant shade can improve your smile aesthetics.

How Long Do Tooth Sealants Last?

The lifespan of your tooth sealants depends on your oral habits. If you take care of your teeth, your tooth sealants can last up to ten years. When the tooth sealants are damaged, your dentist will reapply them.

You might not notice if your tooth sealants are damaged. Therefore, it is advisable to visit your dentist regularly for check-ups. During the dental exams, your dentist will check the condition of your tooth sealants and recommend replacements.

At Pleasure Dental, we recommend the following tips to increase the lifespan of your tooth sealants and prevent dental cavities:

  • Brushing your teeth twice daily to prevent the accumulation of plaque
  • Floss your teeth at least once daily
  • Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth to prevent damaging your sealants
  • Don’t bite on hard foods or objects
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