Learning More about Dental Sealants & How they Prevent Decay
Brushing and flossing are some of the best ways to help deter cavities, but it’s not easy to clean every surface of your teeth – especially when it comes to those back teeth you use to chew, or molars. Molars are jagged, rough, uneven and a frequent place for leftover food and cavity causing bacteria to adhere.
Alas, there is another safety net to help keep your teeth clean. It’s called a sealant. A sealant is a thin, protective coating that is made from plastic or other dental materials. Sealants adheres to the chewing surface of your primary chewing teeth. However, they are no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can hellp keep cavities from starting and often stop early stages of decay from becoming a large cavity.
Fact is, sealants have been shown to decrease the risk of decay as frequently as 80% in molars. This is imperative when it comes to your child's oralhealth. In October 2016, the Centers for Disease Control put out a report on the impact of sealants for school-aged children. The report showed that only 43% of children ages 6-11 have sealants. A similar CDC report showed that, "school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants."
We often receive many questions about sealants at Elevation Family Dental, and we have answers for you below. Read on to learn more about how you can prevent tooth decay.
How Do Sealants Work?
Think of a dental sealant as raincoats for your teeth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that harbor in our mouths meet leftover food particles, they produce acidic products that can develop holes in your teeth. These holes are what we in dentistry call cavities or caries. After a sealant has been applied, it prevents those bits of food out and deters bacteria and acid from settling on your molars—much like a raincoat keeps your body protected and dry during a rain storm.
Who Can Get Sealants?
Both children and adults can benefit from sealants. However, the earlier you get them, the better. When your permanant molars appear, your first molars appear around age 6 to 7, and second molars often break through the gingiva around age 12. Sealing those teeth particularly, and as soon as they come through the teeth completely can keep them cavity-free from the start. This helps save time, money and possible discomfort in the long run. Ask Dr. Judd Chamberlain if sealants are a good option for you and your family.
How Are Sealants Applied?
It’s a quick and painless process. Dr. Judd Chamberlain or one of the staff members at Elevation Family Dental will clean and dry your tooth before placing an acidic gel on your teeth. This gel roughens or prepares your tooth surface so a stronger bond will form between your tooth and the sealant. After several seconds, he will rinse off the gel and dry the tooth surface. This prepares the tooth for the step of applying the sealant onto the grooves of your tooth. Dr. Chamberlain will then use a special blue light to harden the sealant.
Can Sealants Be Placed Over Cavities?
Sealants can indeed be used over areas of early decay to prevent further future damage to an affected tooth. Because some sealants are transparent, we can monitor and keep an eye on the teeth to make sure the sealant is performing.
Are There Any Side Effects?
With the exception of an uncommon allergy that could exist, there are no known side-effects from dental sealants.
Is There BPA In Sealants?
There does exist is a tiny amount of BPA in the material but not enough to cause concern to you or a loved one. Furthermore, you get more exposure to BPA by simply handling a receipt, using make-up or coming into contact with dust.
At Elevation Family Dental we take pride in preventing problems before they become invasive, expensive, and uncomfortable. Sealants are one of the better methods we utilize in achieving that goal. Let us know if you are interested in sealants and schedule a consult today.
