Dental sealants are precisely what they sound like: fragile plastic coatings that are applied onto the chewing surfaces of your molars. They rapidly attach to the pits and crevices of the teeth, establishing a protective layer over the enamel of each tooth, which helps prevent dental decay.
Dental sealants are often applied on those tooth surfaces to protect the molars and premolars from decay. The liquid adhesive sprayed onto the teeth may go into the grooves of the teeth and is then solidified by ultraviolet radiation, resulting in a bonded shield placed over the tooth’s enamel.
Using dental sealants to prevent cavities in children is safe and effective. What about the adults? At the end of the day, tooth decay may happen to anybody, regardless of their age. Why can’t adults benefit from dental sealants, as well? ‘
What Makes Dental Sealants So Effective?
Liquid resin is the raw material for dental sealants. The liquid is applied to the teeth’s biting surfaces and fills up any little crevices or pits. As a result, these areas don’t get clogged with food. Plastic becomes a transparent, thin layer when the resin has dried and hardened. Teeth are protected from decay-causing microorganisms thanks to this sealant.
Getting dental sealants is an easy and fast process. X-rays and cleaning are the initial steps in a dental exam. Dentists want to make sure they’re applying sealants to healthy teeth before doing so. To prevent further decay, sealants should not be applied to teeth that already have a cavity.
After the teeth have been completely cleaned and checked, the dentist applies a gel to the surface. The sealant resin adheres better to a slightly rough surface, as a result of this step. After a few seconds of rinsing, the patient rinses again, and the teeth are then allowed to dry completely.
The dentist then uses a small brush to apply the sealant liquid, and the patient waits for it to harden. To expedite the process, a curing light may be employed. To ensure the patient’s teeth fit together properly when they bite down or chew, the dentist will conduct a “bite check” after completing the procedure.
Dental sealants are typically exclusively used on molars. Because they chew so much, they are more prone to develop cavities. In addition, the surfaces of molars are more uneven, making them a breeding ground for germs and food particles. For the most part, dental sealants last between five and 10 years.
Is It Possible for Dental Sealants to Heal and Restore Damaged Molars?
Dental Sealants used at the dentist’s office are a tried-and-true method for warding off tooth decay and cavities in young children and adolescents. The use of dental sealants may also be beneficial for adults who do not have any decay or restorations in their molars. It is essential to realize that dental sealants are a preventative strategy for preventing tooth decay and cavities. They are not a treatment option if these conditions have already afflicted your molars. If the decay has progressed to the point that it has reached the tooth’s roots, you may need to have your molars extracted.
As soon as the permanent molars and premolars of children erupt into the mouth, sealants should be placed on those teeth.
The Process of Sealant Application for Teeth
Placing dental fillings is an easy process that takes just a few minutes and does not result in any worry for the patient. The following procedures are the ones that the dentists in Gallatin, TN, will use to apply the sealants to your molars.
- The areas of the teeth that the molars will cover are meticulously cleaned.
- Every tooth is subsequently dried, and then cotton or some other material that can absorb moisture is wrapped over the tooth to keep it dry.
- The etching solution is painted over the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them up and improve the sealant’s ability to stick to the tooth.
- After another rinsing, the teeth were patted dry.
In the last step, dental sealants are painted onto the tooth enamel, where they form bonds with the enamel and become firm. The dentist in Gallatin, TN makes use of curing light to hasten the process of the adhesive setting.
Having dental sealants placed on the molars provides several benefits.
It is unnecessary to use any additional methods in addition to brushing and flossing to remove food particles and plaque from the smoother surfaces of your teeth. On the other hand, you could find it challenging to access the depressions and grooves of your molars to clean out food debris and plaque. The pits and fissures of your molars may be sealed with dental sealants, which creates a protective barrier that prevents food and plaque from being stuck between them.
What Types of Molar Damage Can Dental Sealants Prevent?
Dental sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of cavities by as much as 80 percent in the first two years. The protection against roughly fifty percent of holes is maintained for around four years, and the sealants stay on children’s teeth for nearly nine years after application.
Because dental sealants provide a barrier that prevents cavities from forming, those who have had their molars treated with sealants have a lower risk of developing cavities in those teeth.
Dental sealants are an effective preventative strategy against tooth decay and cavities, mainly when applied to the molars. Sealants are most often used for children’s teeth; however, adults may also have them applied if they do not have any decay or fillings in their teeth. Although dental sealants prevent cavities from forming, they cannot repair the lasting damage caused by holes in the tooth, which necessitates the use of fillers and other restoration methods.
Are dental sealants accessible to all dentists?
Promoting dental sealants as an effective method to prevent cavities can be done by any dental practitioner. When applied to your teeth, however, dental sealants need the dentist to have a great deal of patience and skill to be successfully used.
Visit Summer Dental Group in Gallatin, TN for restoration of your molar teeth with dental sealants for adults.
