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Brushing and flossing are the best ways to help prevent cavities, but it’s not always easy to clean every nook and cranny of your teeth especially those back teeth you use to chew (called molars).
Molars are rough, uneven and a favourite place for leftover food and cavity-causing bacteria to hide.
Still, there’s another safety net to help keep those teeth clean. It’s called a sealant, and it is a thin, protective coating (made from plastic or other dental materials) that adheres to the chewing surface of your back teeth. They’re no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity.
In fact, sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. This is especially important when it comes to your child’s dental health. In October 2016, the Centers for Disease Control released a report on the importance of sealants for school-aged children, of which only 43% of children ages 6-11 have. According to the CDC, “school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.”
Fact 1
Sometimes, no matter how hard you or your child brushes their teeth, it can be impossible for the bristles of a toothbrush to clean the tiny grooves and pits. The buildup of bacteria in these areas places your teeth at risk for the danger of decay. Sealants “seal out” food and plaque, thereby reducing the risk of decay.
Fact 2
When your child visits their dental clinic for dental sealants, it will protect their teeth throughout the most cavity-prone years of their life. If properly maintained, sealants can last for many years. To increase their longevity, you should practice good oral hygiene and avoid biting on hard objects. Habits, like chewing on your nails, ice, or biting on pencils, can damage the sealant and your teeth. During a routine dental visit, your dentist will check the sealant and make recommendations for reapplication or repair when it is needed.
Fact 3
Applying sealants is a brief and comfortable process. The sealants can be applied in only one visit and drilling, trimming of the teeth and tooth structure removal is not required. Your child’s teeth can be protected in no time!
Fact 4
For most children, tooth decay is commonly found in the grooves and pits of their teeth. These areas are located on the grinding or chewing surfaces of the molars (back teeth). Dental sealants near you keep bacteria and food particles from becoming lodged in these areas, thereby protecting your child’s teeth.
Fact 5
Sealants are made from clear or shaded plastic. They are applied to children’s teeth to help prevent them from cavities. When your child visits their dental office, the process for applying the sealants will depend on the type of sealant being used. Some sealant material may harden on its own through a chemical process. Other sealant types may require a special light in order to harden.
Fact 6
Before the tooth is sealed, it must be cleaned first. Then, it is conditioned with an acid solution and dried. Next, the sealant is painted onto the pits and grooves of the tooth. Lastly, it is left to harden naturally or with a special light.
Fact 7
Your saliva is essential, as it helps to wash away food particles and bacteria in your mouth. Also, if your saliva production decreases, it can cause unwanted side effects such as bad breath and dry mouth. Saliva is a natural cleaner or in other words, “natures toothbrush,” but is not able to wash out the grooves and fissures. The teeth that are at the highest risk for decay and in need of sealants are the permanent molars.
Fact 8
The permanent premolars and primary (baby) molars can also benefit from sealants. Any tooth that has grooves or pits will likely benefit from the protection offered by sealants.
Fact 9
Although it is less common, dental sealants can be used for adults who are at a higher risk for cavities. The sealants will be placed on teeth with deep pits and fissures that are free from fillings.
Fact 10
Sealants are a component of complete preventive dental care. Note, sealants will only protect the areas they are applied to. All patients should practice good oral hygiene, eat a balanced diet, and visit their dentist regularly.
Myth 1
Sealants tend to leak.
Myth 2
Teeth will decay under the sealant
Myth 3
If you seal in decay, caries will grow.
Myth 4
You should open up fissures with a bur before placing a sealant.
Myth 5
Sealants usually don’t last.
Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are candidates for sealants. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.
Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14.
In some cases, dental sealants may also be appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child’s baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves. Because baby teeth play such an important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it’s important to keep these teeth healthy so they are not lost too early.
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