Modern dentistry focuses more than ever on the prevention of dental disease, and therefore the prevention of extensive dental treatment. Dental sealants are one of these preventive innovations that can benefit specific patients.
What are Dental Sealants and Who Should Get Them?
A dental sealant is a plastic coating placed on the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars, or the back teeth. Dentists may recommend this coating for patients that have deep grooves and valleys on the chewing surfaces of their teeth, and if they are prone to dental decay (dental cavities). Dental sealants act as a barrier from acids and germs, helping to prevent decay from starting. They are commonly clear or white in appearance, but tinted materials are also available.
Sealants are usually placed shortly after a tooth has come through the gums, before the tooth may develop dental decay. Therefore, many children can benefit from dental sealants. A child's first set of molars come in around six years of age, and the second set around the age of twelve. Some adults too, may benefit from sealants if they are prone to cavities and have deep grooves in the chewing surfaces of their teeth. Your dental professional can let you know if you would personally benefit from such a preventive procedure.
Why are Dental Sealants Needed for Some Patients?
Food, especially sticky, sugary food such as candy, will nestle in the crevices of teeth, and decay can easily begin. Because the chewing surfaces of molars are not smooth, it is a challenge to clean them thoroughly to prevent a cavity from developing. Dental sealants can help prevent cavities by "sealing" the grooves, but patients still need to continue with proper oral hygiene to keep these areas clean.
How are Dental Sealants Applied to Teeth?
Placing a dental sealant is usually a relatively quick, easy, painless and non-traumatic procedure, providing the patient is cooperative. The use of dental injections, commonly referred to as "dental freezing", and dental drills to remove tooth structure are not required for a typical preventive dental sealant where no decay is present.
Although there are different types of sealants, we will focus on the most common: those that help to prevent cavities before they start.
The procedure for placing a typical dental sealant in a tooth without a cavity is as follows.
- Initially, the dental professional cleans the tooth, then dries it.
- The tooth is prepared with a conditioning gel for a few seconds.
- The gel is rinsed and dried off.
- A liquid plastic sealant coating is applied.
- A special dental light is used to harden the sealant material.
- The tooth is then checked to see if the sealant is too high when the patient bites their teeth together. If it is high, then the sealant will be adjusted.
The placing of a dental sealant is a simple process, and many teeth can be sealed in one appointment.
If there is a minimal amount of decay present on a tooth prior to treatment, the tooth can be cleaned out with a dental drill and then a "preventive" type of filling placed. In this case, because the decay is limited and not very deep, dental injections are not usually required.
How Long do Dental Sealants Last?
Like many dental procedures, dental sealants do not last forever. They can last as long as five to ten years. Dental sealants can chip, wear away, and decay can form around them, so they should be checked regularly and replaced when needed by your dental professional.
Why Get Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are a preventive measure for those at risk for dental cavities and with deep grooves. They can save time, money, and possible future dental costs of involved dental treatment. Sealants are especially effective when they are promptly placed after the tooth comes through the gums, and if they are properly maintained and repaired as needed. Proper nutrition is also important, keeping exposure to sugar to a minimum.
However, if an individual is at low risk for dental cavities and has regular protection against dental cavities such as fluoridated toothpaste, then dental sealants may not be advantageous in this situation. Your treating dentist can provide more input as to if you or your family are candidates for dental sealants.
Sources
- American Dental Association (ADA)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Dr. Hardy Limeback, Head of Preventive Dentistry at the University of Toronto
- Government of Saskatchewan
Brandy Pearce - As a seasoned traveler, dental professional, educator and jewelry designer, Brandy's articles are insightful, interesting, and full of ...
