Besides the occasional discomfort when having dental sealants applied, most patients, including children, don’t feel exasperated with the procedure. This is because the molars are the only teeth that receive dental sealants because of the deep grooves and pits on them that allow entrapment of food particles and bacteria to create infections in them.
If you intend to get dental sealants, it is essential to know what they are and what you can expect when receiving them.
Why Are Dental Sealants Applied?
As mentioned earlier, your molars have deep grooves and pits comfortable for food particles and bacteria to remain trapped on them and deposit acids to erode tooth enamel and create cavities. Dental sealants help create a smoother surface on the molars, making it easier for you to clean them by brushing and flossing. However, your molars are challenging to clean because of their location and frequently become victims of cavities by your mouth bacteria.
Dental sealants are applied as a preventive measure against cavities forming on your teeth after eroding your tooth enamel.
Who Can Use Dental Sealants?
Anyone with molars are candidates for dental sealants. However, they are often recommended for children to develop their molars at six and 12 when they don’t have appropriate motor skills to indulge in proper cleaning of their teeth. In addition, the sealants help prevent cavities on children’s teeth by providing them with a smoother surface on the back teeth.
Adults with unrestored teeth can also consider dental sealants if they intend to prevent holes from developing. The sealant treatment is affordable for children and receives support from dental insurance companies to further reduce costs. However, adults must inquire with the dentist in Munster, IN, about the costs of getting sealants on their teeth.
How Are Dental Sealants Applied?
The application process for dental sealants is relatively straightforward and completed in approximately 30 minutes. However, the process starts with a consultation to help you discuss your needs and expectations with the dentist.
When getting dental sealants on your children’s teeth or your teeth, the molars are initially cleaned and dried before applying them with an etching solution to help the sealing material adhere to the tooth. Next, the molars are cleaned again and dried with absorbent material to ensure your saliva doesn’t contaminate them. Finally, the tooth-colored dental sealant is painted on the teeth to protect them from bacteria. The sealing material is hardened with ultraviolet light, and the tooth is polished to ensure it doesn’t affect your bite. The entire procedure is completed within 30 minutes.
How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?
Dental sealants have a lifespan of approximately ten years but might need replacement if worn or damaged. During regular appointments with your dentist, they will assess the dental sealant application and reapply them if worn or chipped.
After getting dental sealants, you can rest assured that the material will protect teeth against 80 percent of cavities for two years. The protection remains ongoing against 50 percent cavities for another four. The dental sealants stay on the teeth for approximately a decade, ensuring you don’t develop cavities as long as you maintain excellent dental hygiene by brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing them once, and getting six monthly dental cleaning from your dentist. The dental sealant procedure is an excellent preventive measure against your mouth bacteria that forever work to cause enamel erosion and damage your teeth permanently.
Please Schedule an Appointment with Us
If you have concerns about cavities on your teeth or that of your children, we suggest you schedule an appointment with us to discuss a preventive measure that, besides requiring a short appointment, will not cause any discomfort or stress.
The dental sealant application process is painless and doesn’t require numbering drugs for pain relief. You or your kid may feel minor discomfort after the procedure by sitting with your mouth open on the dentist’s chair for 30 minutes or more. However, getting sealants on your teeth helps prevent dental visits to seal holes that might develop if you leave your molars unprotected. In addition, the sealants cost fewer dollars than fillings or other restorations that become necessary if you have a permanently damaged tooth in your mouth.
As mentioned earlier, the dental sealant process is not an excuse to neglect dental hygiene. The optimal way to prevent holes developing on your teeth is to maintain excellent dental hygiene besides having an additional barrier on them for protection provided by Family Dental Care — Munster to keep your molars healthy for as long as possible.
