Dental sealants are placed on the chewing surface of your teeth to prevent serious tooth decay by protecting your teeth from food and bacteria. They are made from a thin coating that can easily mold to the unique shape of your teeth. They are usually used to shield your molars and premolars from decay because floss cannot easily get into all the grooves and fissures of the teeth in the back of your mouth, but they can be used for any of your teeth.
How are sealants applied?
To apply a dental sealant, a dentist will clean your teeth and then paint a coating over each tooth. Usually, this coating is made of plastic, but other materials can be used as well. The coating bonds to the tooth and a special light can then help the sealant get harder so that it can act as an effective barrier that can last for a number of years. If they wear or chip away, then your dentist can apply more if it is still necessary to protect your teeth from decay. It is a painless process that only takes a few minutes.
Should you get sealants?
Dental sealants prevent decay, so you can use them on any of your teeth that you want to protect. Ideally, you want to put sealants on teeth that have not yet suffered any sort of decay. Therefore, children whose adult teeth are just starting to grow in are very good candidates for sealants. Children are also more prone to cavities, so they are most likely to benefit from using sealants to shield their teeth. However, many adults have healthy teeth and sealants can definitely help to keep those teeth healthy. Additionally, children without adult teeth can benefit from sealants if a dentist is worried that these teeth might fall out too quickly as a result of serious decay.
Are sealants safe?
As long as you follow all the instructions that your dentist gives you, your dental sealants should not give you any health problems. You should probably rinse your mouth about thirty minutes after sealant is applied because it can prevent some of the ingredients in unhardened sealant from causing medical concerns. Your dentist will also probably clean your teeth with certain chemicals to further protect you from some of the ingredients in sealants. Therefore, with good hygiene habits and a meticulous dentist, your sealants should be safe.
Sealants are definitely a good way to protect your teeth for a number of years. They cannot replace brushing and flossing, but they can certainly help, especially if you are particularly concerned about cavities. Talk to a dentist about dental sealants in Windermere area if you think sealants might be a good choice for you or for someone you know.
For more information, you can contact Parkview Kids Dental & Orthodontics or https://web.com/.
