Dental Sealants: What are They and When are They Used?

Dental Sealants: What are They and When are They Used?

Aug 01, 2021

Tooth decay is one of the leading causes of tooth damage and tooth loss, especially among children. This explains why there is so much focus on tooth decay prevention. Both primary and permanent teeth play an important role in ensuring good oral health and it is necessary to ensure they all stay healthy. Your teeth are continuously coated with a thin film of bacteria called plaque. The plaque combines with acids from foods and drinks and begin to attack the enamel. While brushing and flossing should help get rid of plaque an bacteria in the mouth, some factors such as the anatomy of the molars makes it difficult to clean these teeth. The toothbrush bristles may not properly clean teeth with deep pits and fissures

Your dentist near Bronxville may the recommend use of dental sealants, if it is has been determined that your teeth are susceptible to damage as a result of tooth decay.

What are Sealants?

Dental sealants, as the name implies, act as a shield to protect your teeth. They are a thin plastic coating applied onto the back of teeth to prevent bacteria from accumulating there and thus makes cleaning easy. They are made from a resin-based plastic material and once painted on the teeth, a curing light is used to help it dry and bond onto the tooth’s enamel. Basically, dental sealants in Bronxville act as a physical barrier between bacteria and the vulnerable surfaces of the teeth.

Best Candidate for Dental Sealants in 10708

Everyone can benefit from getting sealants. Although commonly used in young children, teens adults and senior patients can still make great candidates for sealants. In kids they are used to facilitate easy oral hygiene. At their young age, children are yet to master the correct brushing and flossing technique. They are also very vulnerable to tooth decay and cavities and the dental sealants help even out the grooves and fissures on the surface of teeth for easier cleaning.

In teenagers, dental sealants are applied to offer protection before or after receiving orthodontic care. Some types of orthodontic treatments like braces make it difficult to properly brush and floss. Having sealants during this time ensures the teeth are protected even as the orthodontic treatment is ongoing.

Adults will also get sealants when it has been established that their molars have deep pits and grooves that trap food particles and make cleaning difficult. Patients that also vulnerable to tooth decay due to a variety of factors also get sealants.

In senior patients, the reason behind getting sealants is to facilitate easy cleaning of teeth. We all know that as we age, mobility issues arise, making it difficult for you to coordinate actions like brushing and flossing.

How are Sealants Applied?

The procedure for getting dental sealants near Bronxville, NY is relatively simple and painless. It takes a single dental visit and can be performed alongside routine procedures like dental cleanings and checkup. It begins with having your teeth cleaned, flossed and then polished. Thereafter they are dried and then etched with an acidic solution to roughen the enamel so that the sealant is able to properly adhere to the tooth’s surface. The etching solution is then rinsed and the sealant material is painted and left to bond onto the enamel. In some cases, a special light may be used to help the sealant dry and properly bond onto the tooth.

How to Care for Sealed Teeth

There isn’t a lot that goes into caring for your teeth after getting dental sealants. Immediately after the procedure, you can go ahead and eat or drink like normal. You should still keep up with good oral hygiene, so continue to brush at least twice a day and floss once daily. Be wary of harmful habits that could damage your teeth or the sealants. Do not chew on hard foods like ice and avoiding biting onto objects like pens or using your teeth as tools.

Sealants are highly effective at preventing cavities and have proven to last for as long as 10 years. Visit Bronxville Dentistry today or book your appointment to learn more about sealants and the role they play in your oral health.

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