Dental sealants are a great, cost-effective way to protect your teeth from cavities. A sealant is a thin, tooth colored coating on the chewing surfaces and grooves of teeth to seal against tooth decay. Even though brushing and flossing regularly is necessary for good oral health, sometimes the bristles of a toothbrush cannot remove all the food and plaque debris that may hide in the deeper grooves of teeth. In this article, we explore all of the ways sealants are beneficial to a young one’s oral health and how they can prevent tooth decay.
What is a Sealant?
Dental sealants for kids and teens act as a barrier between food and your teeth. In turn, this does not allow bacteria and acid to settle on your teeth. Dental sealants are typically made from composite resin or other dental materials and are applied directly to the pits and fissure grooves on the chewing surfaces of your molars and premolars. These grooves can be hard to clean effectively with regular brushing, making them susceptible to plaque build-up and decay. Sealants act as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids. The most common question parents tend to ask is do dental sealants help prevent cavities?
The American Dental Association(ADA) has approved the use of sealants for the prevention of cavities for over five decades, indicating it is one of the leading ways to decrease your risk of developing tooth decay. Sealants are one of the most cost effective ways to protect a tooth surface from cavities. It is also relatively inexpensive compared to more invasive and pricey dental treatments like fillings and crowns.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports the use of sealants due to studies showing they can prevent 80 percent of cavities for up to two years after application and 50 percent for up to four years. Studies show that school-aged children without sealant application are up to three times more likely to develop tooth decay compared to those with sealants. This “ dental disease” of tooth decay is even more prevalent than childhood asthma!
Who Should Get Sealants?
Dental sealants are especially beneficial for anyone who is susceptible to tooth decay. Children and teens who may not be as diligent with their oral hygiene habits are good candidates, but adults can also benefit from them.
Essentially, anyone with grooves in their permanent molars or premolars can get sealants to lessen their risk of developing cavities. Typically the age to start the sealant process is when the first permanent molars erupt around the age of 6. However, baby teeth can be sealed if they have deep grooves and are susceptible to cavities.
The Process of Getting a Sealant
The great thing about getting sealants is that they are minimally invasive and time efficient, meaning they won’t cause any pain or damage to your teeth and can be done fairly quickly. The dentist or dental hygienist can place sealants by:
- Polishing the tooth to ensure there is no food or plaque debris stuck in the grooves. This could otherwise impede the lifespan and quality of the sealant.
- Etching the tooth is the next step in sealant placement, where an acidic solution is applied temporarily to the tooth. This step is important in the bonding process of the sealant. The tooth is then rinsed and dried well because most sealant material requires the tooth to be completely dry to adhere to the tooth.
- Sealant placement is when the sealant material is applied to the grooves and fissures of the tooth in a thin coating. It is cured permanently using an LED light.
- Some dentists will polish the sealant to make sure it’s flush and there’s no excess material. It may feel funny for a little bit, but typically after a few meals, there is no odd feeling when chewing or biting.
The Lifespan of Sealants
People always want to know how long sealants last! It’s a great question, because if they lasted indefinitely, tooth decay could be reduced drastically. According to the ADA, dental sealants can effectively protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years with proper care. However, they still require regular check-ups for chipping or wearing at your regular dental visits. Your dentist will check your sealant’s condition during your routine dental examination and can replace them if necessary.
It’s important to remember that while sealant material is durable, sealants aren’t permanent. They can wear down over time due to normal chewing activities or consuming hard or sticky foods. This means if you have a poor diet or oral care habits, you may need more frequent evaluations or replacement of your sealants to ensure maximum benefit.
How to Maintain Sealants
In order to maintain sealants long-term, there are a few things you can do to avoid replacement or quicker wear down of sealants. Remember to brush your teeth twice daily to avoid plaque and food debris build-up. Also, flossing daily will help reduce food getting caught between teeth. Sealants help reduce the risk of developing tooth decay, but you can still get a cavity between teeth or on parts of a tooth that cannot be sealed.
Eating a healthy diet and avoiding hard candies will help maintain your sealants longer because they can fracture or break otherwise. The same applies with sticky foods, including raisins and dried fruit. Try not to chew on ice as this decreases the longevity of sealants.
If you tend to grind or clench your teeth, this may decrease the lifespan of a sealant. If you have any grinding habits, it is important to speak with your dentist about this prior to sealant application. You may require a mouthguard to wear at night to prevent any wear on your teeth.
Attending routine dental visits is one of the top ways to ensure your sealant is intact. If a sealant fractures it can leave the tooth susceptible to tooth decay because food and plaque can get trapped under it and cause tooth decay.
Are Sealants Worth It?
While sealants are not a permanent solution to avoid tooth decay, they are one of the most cost-effective and simple ways to prevent cavities. Sealants are highly beneficial for kids and teens who are more susceptible to decay with possibly high frequency carbohydrate diets, poor brushing habits, and orthodontic appliances. But, any adult with deep grooves in their teeth can also benefit from sealant treatment.
Sealants add extra protection, but it is always imperative to have great oral hygiene practices at home. Speak with your dentist and dental hygienist how you can maintain your oral health and keep your sealants in top shape. With proper care and regular dental check-ups, sealants for teeth can last up to 10 years and you will hopefully be cavity free! Contact us at Caldwell, Bill, Petrilli & West today to get started!