At an early age, most children have sealants placed on their back teeth by their dentists. If you check your molars and premolars and see a filling in the grooves, that is probably a sealant.
Some people are cautious about putting some on their children and if you want to put some on your teeth, read this article to help you further.
What are dental sealants?
Sealants are thin, plastic materials placed on the surface of permanent back teeth, these are the molars and premolars, to protect them from acids and bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
Toothbrushes cannot reach grooves and depressions found on teeth, even though dental floss and brushing removes food particles from the smooth surfaces of our teeth. Fluoride found in toothpaste helps with preventing tooth decay and protecting tooth surfaces as well, but sealants offer more protection to the pitted and grooved areas.
A sealant is painted on the chewing surface of a tooth forms a protective shield over the enamel, therefore making it impossible for acids to act upon the tooth. They serve as a seal for the tooth from food and plaque which can get anywhere. Henceforth, why not take full advantage of these fellas!
The appearance of Sealants.
Sealants can have a slight tint, white or clear. It all depends on the type of sealant used.
Types of Sealants.
Sealants can be broken down into two kinds based on the type of reaction once they are placed in the mouth.
- Glass ionomers once set, undergo an acid-base reaction. This makes them stiffer, they are highly susceptible to desiccation, and once set are likely to shrink.
- On the other hand, composite resin goes through a polymerization reaction once set due to the dental curing light. They have less susceptible to desiccation, have a higher tensile strength and release less fluoride.
Sealants are placed on the tooth in liquid form and are cured either using light activation or chemically cured.
Who can get sealants?
Teenagers and children are highly recommended to have sealants due to their likelihood to develop grooves and depressions on their molars and premolars. Adults who don’t have fillings or decay in their molars can try sealants. Also, if pits begin to develop in teeth, adults can have sealants placed over them.
With children, once their back teeth have fully grown, it is best to apply sealants. Cavity-prone ages for children are between 6-14 years. Getting cavities or worse dental issues at an early stage is prevented by sealants as they protect the molars for a long time. The tooth’s damage is assessed before a sealant is placed on it.
How sealants are applied.
Applying sealants is a painless and simple procedure that takes only a few minutes. Your hygienist or dentist applies the sealant over each tooth using the following steps.
1.The soon-to-be sealed teeth are thoroughly cleaned using a rotating brush or polish.
2.Each tooth is washed and dried using cotton or absorbent material to keep the tooth dry.
3.An acidic solution is placed on the fissured surface to roughen it up for a few seconds. This will allow the sealant to bond with the teeth much more comfortable.
4.The tooth is then rinsed and dried.
5.The sealant which is a liquid is applied directly to the enamel of the tooth and set using a special light. If a two-part sealant has been used, it will set o by itself without curing it.
6.Once it has hardened and become a hard plastic of varnish coating, It is ready to be bitten down on.
The expiration date of Sealants.
Protection of the teeth from decay can last up to 10 years if one has sealants. Though, you are required to have dental check-ups often to make sure they are okay. Replacements can be done if necessary.
How to care for your Sealants.
No special treatment is required once the sealant has been placed on the tooth. Carry on with your usual oral care routine by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing as well. Use a fluoridated non-alcoholic mouthwash for extra protection once you’ve brushed your teeth.
What if you are uncomfortable with your sealants?
At first, it will feel uncomfortable having them on. After a couple of days, you will get used to having the sealant in your mouth and being comfortable with them whenever you bite down on something.
But once they become painful or more than uncomfortable, inform your dentist about it so that you can have some adjustments made.
Those who don’t have sealants.
The molars if they have deep pits and are susceptible to decay by bacteria. It is often difficult to clean the deep pits with a toothbrush and decay results to cavities which always lead to loss of teeth. At times, one is required to have intensive procedures like root canals. It is better to prevent such extremes than having to deal with issues later on in life.
When to apply sealants on children’s teeth?
It is better to start early before bacteria gets trapped inside teeth grooves and result to decay. From age six, it is okay to have your child’s teeth have sealants on them. It is best to apply sealants to children’s molars when your dentist recommends it.
Are Sealants covers with your Insurance?
Some companies do cover sealants but for children under the age of 18. do consult your dental insurance to determine if sealants are in your plan.
You can use fluoride even when you have sealants placed. Cavities and decay are prevented by using fluoride.