All about Dental Sealants
Dental Sealants are plastic coatings that are placed on the chewing surfaces of your back teeth, in order to prevent tooth decay. They are there, and that’s because the premolar teeth are harder to clean, and this, in turn, creates an issue. that’s because the plaque that gets there does accumulate, and the acids that are there stick to your teeth, which is how decay happens over time, and cavities develop. Flouride does help prevent decay and protects the surface, but sealants take this to the next level, giving you extra protection.
They are placed on the fissures of the first permanent molars, and once the chewing surfaces have erupted, the tooth grows in behind the baby teeth. If the chewing surfaces are sealed, the sealants will further protect the tooth. The only teeth that can’t be protected are the wisdom teeth, and that is because they come through much later. But, the molars and premolars are kept safe in this fashion and are sealed after they’re erupted from the gums itself.
They are usually placed primarily on chewing surfaces of this because these are the areas that have deeper fissures. Some might be used on other permanent teeth, especially if they have pits and grooves to protect these surfaces. In some kids, the molars and the primary baby teeth may have grooves too, so they can benefit from this. If your hygienist thinks they’re worth it, then they’ll tell you to get the sealants for the teeth.
Can you put these on adults though? While it is primarily used for baby teeth in children, adults will definitely benefit from this too. Some sealants can be clear, white, or even have a slight tint depending on the type of sealant.
You may wonder how they’re placed. Well, they’re used done by putting them on top of the tooth, and it’s a solution that is left on there for you to brush the sealant on. From there, they are hardened with a light. Some of them may not need a light though, and once it’s sealed, it becomes a varnish that is hard and plastic, and you can chew on the teeth again. This is a great surface for you to chew on, and it can help with you keeping these on there.
So how long do they last? Well, this can be used for years. They last longer if you take care of it, and many times, people will use this along with fluoride to better protect the adult teeth. For children, these can last a decade, or even more, and it’s a great way to really help protect the teeth.
Using these sealants are a great way to really improve your own personal health and wellness, and you’ll be able to further protect the teeth that you have in place with this, and make them stronger than ever before, which will help as you age, and as your teeth begin to mature in different ways.
