When and why do you need Dental Sealants?
What are dental sealants?
Maintaining good oral hygiene is an important part of overall health but it is not as easy as we normally make it. Many-a-time, brushing and flossing are not enough to clean the hard-to-reach areas of our mouth. As food particles in the back of our mouth remain uncleaned, it becomes more vulnerable to bacteria invasion and subsequently, tooth decay. Dental sealants are plastic coating applied over the bicuspids and molars. They keep the teeth chewing surfaced of the teeth safe from acid and plaque.
Who needs sealants?
Dental sealants are a way to keep your teeth healthy without taking extra care of your teeth every day. As sealants protect your teeth from bacteria or decay, the earlier one gets it, the better. While both children and adults could benefit from sealants, to get most out of this process one should get it done between 6 and 12 years of age because that’s when the molar appears. Sealants are particularly effective in protecting the grooved areas at the back of your mouth which are most vulnerable to a bacteria invasion; therefore, the sooner one gets it, the better.
How are they applied?
Good news first, the application of sealants is a completely painless procedure with no drilling, numbing injection, etc. involved in it. The procedure has two parts, in the first one; an oral hygienist will thoroughly clean your tooth by removing plaque and food particles from the grooves, pits, and surface of the teeth.
Once the teeth are dry the dentist will apply a gel over the teeth, this gel roughs up your teeth surface so the sealant can stick to your teeth properly. After a few seconds, the gel will be removed and the teeth dried again. In the next part, the dentist will apply the sealant in the grooves of your teeth and then use a special blue light over them to harden it.
What are the pros and cons of sealants?
Pros :
- They keep your teeth healthy by protecting them from decay or bacteria invasion
- The procedure is fairly straightforward and painless
- They are long lasting, convenient, and do not require any special day-to-day care
Cons :
- People with allergy cannot get sealants
- They cannot be applied over teeth that have decay or fillings
- Some patients are concerned with BPA, bisphenol A, a chemical used in the plastic with which sealants are made.
