Dental sealants are applied over your teeth to effectively “seal” out food and bacteria. Particularly on the back molars, food and bacteria get trapped within the grooves of our teeth. Some of these grooves are deep and can’t be properly cleaned with just brushing and flossing. When you have dental sealants, your tooth is essentially protected with the clear and invisible sealant barrier from food and bacteria that could lead to tooth decay such as cavities!

Prevent Cavities

The best time to apply dental sealants is when your molars are relatively new in your mouth and haven’t yet had the chance to be affected by tooth decay—this would be between the ages of 6 and 12 when the first and second molars come in. Even if you haven’t had dental sealants as a child, you can still get them as an adult! If your mouth is healthy, you likely qualify for dental sealants. The procedure is simple and your teeth can benefit from dental sealants for years to come!

Protect Existing Teeth

You’re still a candidate for dental sealants even if some of your molars already have cavities. This is because the sealants can prevent any more damage from happening to your teeth. If you have a small cavity or existing decay, your dentist will fix the problem before sealing your tooth with the dental sealant material. Dental sealants can help protect your teeth for up to 10 years! They’re great for people who experience frequent cavities and have a higher risk for tooth decay than most people.

Best Practices with Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are pretty sturdy, but there are a few things you can do to protect your teeth and extend the life of your dental sealants. These healthy habits include:

 Regular brushing and flossing. That’s right, sealants don’t mean you can just stop taking care of your teeth! Dental sealants are meant to be supplemental protection rather than a replacement for regular care.

 Use your teeth properly. Avoid chewing on things like ice or trying to open packaging with your teeth. This can not only damage your teeth, but your dental sealants as well!

 Get regular checkups. Your dentist can assess your dental sealants at each checkup to see how they’re holding up and whether or not you need more sealant material to help protect your teeth.

Dental sealants can be a great choice for kids as well as adults who are more prone to cavities and have trouble keeping tooth decay away. You can help supplement brushing and flossing and protect your teeth by asking your dentist about dental sealants!

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What Are Dental Sealants?

First, let’s be clear that sealants are in no way a substitute for good oral care. With that out of the way, dental sealants are a coating applied to the chewing surface of teeth to prevent the formation of cavities. The sealant is a synthetic plastic material that is usually clear. While some are concerned that plastic means BPAs, an article from the ADA website provides research showing that these sealants are safe even for children.

What Teeth Are Sealants For?

The teeth that are most commonly treated are molars. That is because the chewing surface is usually pitted, allowing bacteria to build up and cause decay faster. However, any tooth can be treated with a sealant. This process is usually performed when a child gets in their adult teeth, but teeth with no cavities can be treated later on as well.

How Long Do Sealants Last?

It is tough to estimate this, mostly because it depends on how well a person cares for his or her teeth. Again, this is not a substitute for proper oral care. The coating simply acts to overlay the enamel which usually serves to protect the tooth. It is like adding a second protective coating. When teeth are cared for properly, sealants can last for many years.

Is It Worth the Cost?

Treatments are usually performed by the tooth. When a patient has many teeth sealed, the procedure can cost hundreds of dollars. However, because the sealant protects against cavities and other dental problems that are costly to fix, this preventative measure is really a cost-effective means of protecting your teeth. Plus, decay can lead to lost teeth. You can’t really put a price tag on being able to keep your own teeth throughout your life as opposed to dealing with dentures.

Good Oral Care Is a Must

With the help of dental sealants, you can enjoy good oral health throughout your life. However, the responsibility still falls on each individual to care for their teeth daily as well as to schedule regular cleanings with a dental professional.

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Dental sealants are an excellent protection against tooth decay and cavities for children, who can get sealants when their first permanent teeth have come in. The procedure of getting sealants is simple and painless. The dentist first cleans the teeth and rinses them with water. A solution is then placed on the tooth or teeth to be sealed that creates a rough surface for the sealant to attach to. After a few minutes the solution is rinsed off and the teeth are dried. The liquid sealant itself is then painted on the surface of the teeth. The sealant is a plastic material that hardens and bonds to the tooth. After being placed on the teeth, the speed of the hardening process can be increased by the application of a light source to cure the sealant.

Dental sealants are ideal for children and can protect their most vulnerable teeth from problems early on, but adults can also get dental sealants. Dental sealants are strong and hold up well through normal chewing. They can last for years, and can be reapplied as needed. During regular dental checkups your dentist can check the condition of your sealants and recommend reapplication when necessary.

Dental sealants are generally clear or tooth-colored, so they cannot be seen on the teeth. Sealants can block out food particles and protect teeth against cavities and the need for fillings. Sealants can be placed on any teeth, but are usually placed on the back teeth. Teeth that already have fillings or are decayed cannot receive sealants.

Teeth that have been sealed still need proper care, including daily brushing and flossing and regular dental checkups. Fluoride toothpaste is recommended even if teeth are sealed, as it can provide extra protection against decay.

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