Exploring the Role of Dental Sealants in Dentistry
The moment you make your way to a dentist’s office, you will learn about many dental appliances and materials that you had no idea existed. In preventive dentistry, the goal is to put forth proactive measures to manage and sustain excellent oral health. Some of the materials employed to achieve this include oral sealants.
Sealants have been used for many years in dentistry, even though very few people know what they are and how they work. The effectiveness of tooth sealants in dentistry cannot be contended, for children and adults alike.
What are Dental Sealants?
They are oral materials used in preventive dentistry by dentists in Holmdel to protect teeth. Oral sealants are common in Pediatric dental treatments, especially the instant kids grow their adult teeth.
Sealants feature a plastic-like coating that is applied on the surfaces of teeth. It is used on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, that is premolars and molars. The effectiveness of sealants has been proven over the years, particularly for children. With consistency, you can get through life without necessarily losing your teeth to dental decay, thanks to tooth sealants.
How Do Sealants for Teeth Work?
Oral sealants are applied as a thin coat over teeth. Premolars and molars feature rough and uneven chewing surfaces, which allow for the crushing of food particles when chewing. These pits and fissures on the back teeth may be useful for eating, but they can cause some oral issues. Since the pits are uneven, they make it difficult to brush properly. This means that food residues and bacteria get trapped in the pits of your back teeth. Over time, the residues form plaque, which ears into your teeth, causing dental cavities.
Dental sealants are employed to help prevent the formation of dental caries on the back teeth. The goal is to ensure that the sealant material fills the fissures and ridges on the back teeth. When the sealant is applied, it acts as a barrier that stops plaque from forming in the ridges and fissures of your teeth. Since the material is plastic-like and smooth, it is easier to clean than is the case without them.
What Are the Benefits of Tooth Sealants?
When sealants are applied, you may not quite understand their use in your mouth, unless by considering some of the following benefits it presents:
- Preventing dental cavities – if you have ever had a cavity, then you know how uncomfortable it can be, especially when eating crunchy foods. In that case, instead of giving way for dental cavities to ruin your oral health, consider getting sealants in a dental clinic near you.
- Protecting teeth against hypersensitivity – many people experience tooth sensitivity in the course of their lifetime. Part of it has to do with the gradual thinning of the enamel, the outer layer of teeth. Sealants for sensitive teeth is important because it adds an extra layer on top of the enamel of your teeth. This way, the sensitivity triggers in your mouth will not cause you discomfort, as long as the sealant is in place.
- Boosting oral hygiene – the sealant material layers smoothly on your back teeth, making it easy to brush the chewing surfaces without leaving some spots unattended. The result is cleaner teeth and a reduced possibility of plaque build-up.
- It is a painless procedure – no degree of pain is experienced when sealants are applied. The only thing required is for you to keep your mouth open until the sealant has been applied. This is why you must wait for your child to be old enough for this before you can take them to the dentist to get tooth sealants.
Should You Get Sealants?
Anyone can get sealants for their molars and premolars if they want them. However, you must have your dentist determine how suited you are for them, through a dental exam. If you already have dental cavities, sealants will not be appropriate for you. Besides that, patients who have dental implants or artificial teeth may not benefit from sealants. Aside from that, visit our offices today for a dental consultation with our dentist to know whether or not you are a suitable candidate for oral sealants.