Answers to questions about dental sealants
What is dental sealant?
Dental sealants are thin plastic materials that are usually placed on back teeth to prevent tooth decay. This method is used to cover the grooves and pits of the teeth, especially the molars and small molars, and they become hard and stable over time.
Why do children need dental sealants?
Children are more susceptible to tooth decay, so dental sealants should be used as soon as the first molars appear. Sealants work as a protective layer on the surface of teeth and prevent decay in childhood. This method helps children maintain their oral health for a long time.
How do sealants work?
Molar and posterior teeth are uneven, so food particles stick to them over time and cause tooth decay. Sealants make these surfaces smooth, so that food particles are not trapped between grooves and cavities!
Is dental sealant safe?
It is completely safe and without any complications, and dentists have been using sealants for almost six decades, and injuries caused by dental sealants have been very rare among users.
How long do dental sealants last?
Dental sealants typically last 10 years with proper care. However, sealants are subject to wear and tear, vigorous brushing and flossing, reducing their useful life, lasting approximately 6-8 years.
How to put dental sealant?
Dental sealants usually require a dental visit.
- First, the dentist brushes the teeth with an electric toothbrush.
- Second, the teeth are dried by gauze dressing.
- Third, the tooth surface is cleaned with an acid solution so that they adhere well to the tooth surface.
- Fourth, the tooth is washed and dried again.
- Fifth, the sealant is placed on the tooth, usually in the back.
Is brushing not enough to prevent tooth decay?
The bristles of the toothbrush cannot completely rid you of the germs behind the teeth and it can hardly clean the cavities and grooves completely.
Note that fluoride is the best defense against tooth decay and the fastest method. Therefore, dentists in Canada recommend using fluoride toothpaste. Additionally, you can drink fluoridated water to prevent bacteria from building up in your mouth!
