Dental sealants are also called fissure and pit sealants or just fissure sealants.
They are dental treatments that should prevent cavities.
The fissures and pits in teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay because they cannot be cleaned easily. Dental sealants contain materials that are put in the fissures and pits to fill them, creating a smooth surface that is easy to clean. A dental sealant is used with children who may be at high risk of suffering tooth decay; they are put on when adult moral teeth develop.
Dental cavities are the upset of a balance between the gain and loss of minerals from the tooth surface. The mineral loss occurs from bacteria in the mouth, which ferment the foods while producing acids, but the tooth gets minerals from saliva and the fluoride found in the mouth. The imbalance results from taking too much fermentable carbohydrates or bad oral hygiene with insufficient fluoride intake. This causes continuous loss with no gain of the minerals over some time and may cause tooth decay.
Do You Need Dental Sealants?
The biting surface of the back teeth is susceptible to cavities because of the fissures and grooves, which favor the retention and the formation of plaque.
The fissure sealant is a preventive procedure used as a minimally invasive method in dentistry. The approach facilitates prevention and early intervention, which helps stop and prevent the process of dental cavities before they reach the end stage of the disease. This problem is also called cavitation and hole of the tooth. The fissure sealant aims to prevent or halt the development of dental cavities. Using fissure sealant provides the physical barricade that protects the natural tooth surface and inhibits the bacteria’s buildup.
Dental sealant is made of a plastic-like material and placed in the fissures or pits of the permanent, primary, or premolar teeth found at the back of a mouth. Molar teeth are susceptible to dental decay because of their anatomy on the chewing surface. This can inhibit the protection of fluoride and saliva and favor the accumulation of plaque.
Even with proper oral hygiene, some people can still suffer cavities. Some individuals are prone to cavities because of the structure and shape of the teeth, but not because they refuse to brush regularly. When dentists notice that a person may suffer advanced decay, they may suggest using dental sealant to ensure the teeth stay healthy.
Our dentists will not suggest sealants to every patient; they are only reserved for people prone to cavities, like young kids and teens. This includes children who still have baby teeth. The sealant is designed to fill up the deep pits with the grooves of the molars.
Applying the sealant before the decay starts will block the area where bacteria and food particles are attached to the teeth’ surface.
Understanding that a patient can be nervous before a dental procedure is essential. Most sealants are made using a liquid resin, which is brushed onto the teeth to harden them. This process can take only a few minutes, including drying after application. This procedure may even be offered at some school centers. The resin will be dried into a hard material in a few seconds since light will cure the sealant materials. The material turns invisible, and there will be no difference between the normal surface and the natural teeth. This procedure should not cause any pain at all.
When the sealant is applied, it may last over ten years as long as it is maintained well. Removing it is unnecessary, but it can wear off over time.
When the sealant has been applied, the dentist checks it every time the patients go for a professional cleaning. He can reapply the sealant if it is wearing faster than usual. This ensures the teeth are protected against bacteria that calcify into tartar.
Patients must remember that sealant is not the only method to ward off cavities, so you should not forget about proper oral care. When a child is prone to cavities, they can protect their teeth using fluoride-rich toothpaste as well.
Applying dental sealants is a straightforward and painless procedure. The whole process only takes a few minutes. The following are the primary steps of dental sealant application:
Dental sealants are usually meant for young children. As such, insurance providers generally only cover the cost of dental sealants for children under 18. However, in some situations, the insurance provider may also cover a percentage of the treatment in adults.
Dental sealants are generally used for children. However, in some rare cases, dental sealants are also used on adults at risk of developing cavities. The dental sealant is applied on the deep grooves and fissures without fillings.
Dental sealants generally look clear and white. In some cases, they may have a slight tint. You can select the dental sealant yourself so it most closely mirrors the color of your own teeth.
Yes, it’s extremely important to use fluoride solution to protect the surrounding teeth from decay and cavities. Dental sealants can only protect the specific location in which they’re placed — they cannot protect your entire mouth and teeth.
Sealants are said to reduce dental decay among children. This is because they make it extremely difficult to consume candies and toffees after this treatment. Even though they are proven to work, they are unnecessary since better oral hygiene is the highly recommended defense against tooth decay. Taking care of your teeth properly early on may lead to not needing any dental sealant at all.
Dental caries are the dark spots you can see inside your mouth. They appear as black dots on the enamel. They indicate that the tooth might become infected by the cavity. Caries show very early signs of a developing cavity in a person’s mouth. This is why people are advised to see their dentist regularly. They can identify caries and propose solutions to remove them before they develop into proper cavities. Caries are often treated by drilling out the infected part and replacing it with a restorative filling. The fillings used these days are usually composites because they match the natural shade of our teeth. The process of removing caries is straightforward and may not require repeated visits if it is done right.
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Disclaimer: URBN Dental uses restorative materials such as Admira Fusion® by VOCO, which are free of BPA and Bis-GMA, and are not known to degrade into microplastics under normal oral conditions. While marketed as biocompatible and free of traditional plastic monomers, no dental material is guaranteed to be completely risk-free for all patients. This information is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute medical or regulatory advice.
