What Are Dental Sealants?

How can you maintain a good dental health? Properly brushing the teeth at least three times a day, using dental floss and a regular visit to the dentist are the three basic rules to follow in order to have all your teeth in top shape. All these actions are geared toward effectively prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay prevention is a crucial factor in the maintenance of good oral health.

Experts in the field of dental health have come up with one of the most effective weapons in the fight against tooth decay. These are called dental sealants. Dental sealants are thin, clear or white plastic coatings that are applied to the teeth. These are usually applied to the chewing areas of the back teeth that often contain fissures and grooves. Dental grooves and fissures that are anatomically inherent to most back teeth are often prone to develop dental decay. Dental sealants are mostly effective in preventing decays to these areas. Dental decay is created when plaque is left to accumulate on the tooth surface and acted upon by bacteria. The bacterial action results in the creation of acid. The acid in turn will cause dental degradation. Dental sealants prevent decay by providing a barrier between the tooth's surface, the food particles and the acid forming bacteria. Studies show that dental sealants can provide the treated teeth with as much as 100% protection. These can even arrest the further development of dental caries once applied over existing minute cavities.

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Dental sealants are applied by first cleaning the teeth. The enamel is then slightly etched with an acid solution. Then the crewing surfaces are applied with a clear or opaque plastic liquid resin. A high intensity light is applied to harden the sealants in place. These can also harden through chemical self-activation. Most dental experts suggest that sealants should be applied to permanent molars in order to attain the best possible efficacy. This is because these teeth are more often anatomically endowed with pits and fissures, which are difficult to keep clean even with meticulous brushing and are therefore susceptible to decay. Dental sealants provide the teeth the necessary protection against the development of dental cavities. The pre-molars, pits and fissures of other teeth may also benefit from the application of sealants - especially in children who have high risk of developing dental caries. Sealants are only best applied on the teeth's groove, pits and fissures. These are not applied to the smooth surfaces of the teeth since the plastic resins do not work well in these areas.

According to dental experts, dental sealants are very effective measures against the development of tooth decay especially for children and teenagers. A long-term study about the effectiveness of sealants shows that children whose permanent molars were sealed only develop cavities to about 39 percent. On the other hand, children whose teeth were not treated with dental sealants develop cavities to a staggering 94 percent. Primary teeth, which are anatomically susceptible to decay, can also benefit from dental sealant application.

Dental sealant application is generally painless and requires no drilling. Sealants are estimated to last about seven years and can be re-applied if they wear down.

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