Maintaining proper dental hygiene and general health requires daily effort and commitment. Dental sealants may be a quick and simple method to protect your teeth from decay in the long term, but learning more about them and their price before getting them might help you decide whether the process is suitable for you.
What Are Dental Sealants?
These dental appliances are plastic coatings that are often applied to the chewing (occlusal) surfaces of the teeth, usually premolars and molars, to help prevent decay. The sealant instantly forms a layer over the enamel by stick to to the surface of the teeth.
Why Are Sealants Placed on Teeth?
The grooves, or "fissures," on the grinding surfaces of the premolar and molar teeth render them susceptible to decay. These cracks may be deep, difficult to clean, and even more minor than a toothbrush's single bristle.
Plaque builds in these places. Cavities may form due to the plaque bacteria's acid attacks on the enamel. Fluoride protects the whole surface of the teeth and helps prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants cover the fissured region with a smooth surface, providing additional protection for the grooved and pitted areas.
Who is a Candidate for Dental Sealants?
Children and teens are candidates for sealants due to the likelihood of decay developing in the sinkholes and fissures of the teeth. If you have healthy molars without any previous dental work, you might still benefit from sealants.
Children's premolars and permanent molars should often get sealants as soon as they emerge. In this manner, the sealants may safeguard the teeth from ages 6 to 14, when cavities are most common.
How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?
Dental sealants may prevent tooth decay for up to ten years, but a dentist must regularly examine them for wear or chipping. Your dentist may replace the sealants when necessary.
Maintaining proper dental hygiene and general health requires daily effort and commitment. Dental sealants may be a quick and simple method to protect your teeth from decay in the long term, but learning more about them and their price before getting them might help you decide whether the process is suitable for you.