What are Dental Sealants?
A dental sealant is a plastic coating on teeth that protects the molars and premolars, or premolars. Applying this material to the chewing surface, it prevents acids and plaque from weakening the tooth enamel. It is important to seal the molars and premolars. This is because the occlusal surface has grooves that can easily become a place for food debris to collect. If food particles remain on these ridges, they can turn into an acid, which can erode tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.
Who Needs Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are normally used when a patient is particularly susceptible to developing cavities. Often, this means that dental sealants are used for children and teens because they are often not as thorough in their oral health care, particularly young children.
Your general dentist’s main concern is keeping your oral health intact. To reduce the danger of tooth decay and gum disease, they provide a range of preventative dental procedures. Despite the fact that most individuals are aware of the significance of biannual cleanings, fewer people are aware of other preventative dental procedures. Dental sealants are a preventative care option that your general dentist provides.
Your back teeth are coated with dental sealants, which serve as a barrier to prevent food particles from entering confined spaces. But a lot of patients are confused about this thin layer. What do dental sealants do specifically? How long do sealants last on teeth? Dental sealants eventually need to be changed with fresh ones.
Learn more about how sealants function, how long does sealants last on teeth, and why you need them to prevent cavities from growing in your teeth by reading on.
What do Dental Sealants do Specifically?
According to experts at the American Dental Association, dental sealants are like raincoats for your teeth. Your rear teeth, which are more prone to cavities, have this thin sheeting covering them like a new protective layer. It is comparable to how a jacket may keep you dry and shield your body from falling rainfall. The dangerous bacteria won’t be able to colonize there once the sealant has been applied.
Teeth sealants specialists will coat your teeth with sealants, which are extremely thin. They apply an adhesive gel to your teeth, rinse it off, and then apply the sealant to the nooks and crannies of the teeth. No anesthesia or incisions of any kind are necessary for the process. Since it is only a thin layer of material applied to the surface of your teeth, it is a completely painless process.
That’s all there is to it! In fact, this treatment is primarily intended for children to significantly lower their risk of developing cavities.
Why Are Sealants Good for Children?
According to a ground-breaking study by the CDC, dental sealants are three times more effective than no sealants at preventing cavities in kids aged 6 to 11. Without any dental protection, most children are considerably more prone to get molar decay at a young age. Many of those cavities go for a very long time without being treated.
Early childhood infections and other hazardous problems can be avoided using teeth sealants. Their teeth are given something to shield them during the day with sealants. Kids will benefit from having that extra layer to prevent cavities while learning how to practice proper dental hygiene.
Not to mention that teeth sealants are painless, simple to apply, and incredibly economical. Due to an untreated cavity, this straightforward and inexpensive operation may prevent future dental care costs of hundreds or thousands of dollars.
How Long do Teeth Sealants Last?
Dental sealants can last around 9 years on teeth. However, after the fourth year, the majority of general dentists advise changing them. This is due to the fact that their effectiveness declines over time, peaking in the first four years. Dentists will change the sealant to reduce the possibility of developing decay with a sealant or having germs trapped behind a more worn sealant.
Sealants may deteriorate more quickly if they are subjected to excessive stress, which may impact each patient’s longevity. A patient with bruxism would be a good example of this. The sealant surface will experience additional stress from repeated clenching and grinding, which will probably speed up sealant wear and raise the possibility of sealant damage. As a result, your dentist can also advise wearing a night guard to preserve the sealant’s effectiveness and safeguard your teeth from grinding.
Other practices that can harm sealants include smoking, using your teeth to open items, chewing on ice or pencils, and biting your nails. Furthermore, chewing on crunchy items like nuts, hard candies, and popcorn might increase the chance of injury and early deterioration.
Teeth sealants must be maintained by abstaining from specific activities, and regular dental visits every six months are advised so your dentist may assess the sealant’s health. And lastly, sealants often need to be renewed every four years. The majority of dentists advise changing them sooner rather than later to retain the greatest degree of advantages and the least amount of risk, even though they can stay on teeth for nine years.
How Long Do Sealants Last?
Sealants can protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for chipping or wearing at regular dental check-ups. Your dentist can replace sealants as necessary.
Get the Smile You`ve Always Wanted!
Overall, dental sealants have a varying lifespan depending on your diet and oral habits. Know more about how long do sealants last? Could your child benefit from this cavity-preventing treatment? To better understand how the treatment works and whether it’s a good fit for your teeth, ask your Dentist Carlstadt and teeth sealants specialist about dental sealants during your next appointment.
If you’re looking for an experienced, reliable, and friendly dentist near me Carlstadt, NJ contact A Trusted Family Dentist in Carlstadt, New Jersey, Dr. Rizzo and his team at Smiles by Rizzo. They will give you the personalized treatment you deserve using state-of-the-art technology. For exceptional and comprehensive dental care, schedule your appointment today by calling 201-939-5770 or requesting an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!
Recent Blog
