How Dental Sealants on Your Teeth As a Preventive Measure against Cavities

Are you forever thinking about how you can prevent the problems of cavities developing on your and your kid’s teeth? If you are determined to protect your teeth from an overgrowth of bacteria, tooth decay, and cavities, it helps if you inquire about dental sealants from the dentist near you as a preventive measure. Dental sealants don’t eliminate the need for brushing your teeth but are undoubtedly optimal to prevent your kids from getting cavities.

Tooth sealants are a plastic material that is coated on the chewing surfaces of the molars to prevent decay and cavities. Sealants function as a protective barrier on the chewing surfaces against the problem of holes. Pits and fissures besides depressions are prominent on the molars’ chewing surfaces, allowing food particles and debris to remain trapped, enhancing your risk of bacterial overgrowth to encourage decay and cavity formation. Dental sealants near you help prevent cavities by 80 percent for the first two years of the application and continue the protection against 50 percent of holes for another four years while remaining on your teeth for up to 9 years.

Who Can Have Dental Sealants?

There is a misconception that dental sealants are primarily for children and teenagers because they are prone to the chronic problem of cavities. In addition, children and young teenagers are frequently snacking on sugary and starchy foods and neglecting dental hygiene, making the dentist in Auburn, AL, recommend dental sealants often for children’s molars.

Although children are the primary recipients of dental sealants, adults are in no way restricted from having them over their back teeth. In reality, the Auburn dentist Dr. Mark Summerford also recommends dental sealants for adults with unrestored teeth as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of cavities. Therefore anyone from children to adults can have dental sealants over their teeth.

What to Expect When Getting Dental Sealants?

Getting dental sealants is as comfortable as undergoing a routine dental exam and cleaning. Besides sitting with your mouth open in the dentist’s chair, you will likely not experience any discomfort as the dentist 86830 completes the procedure in one appointment.

Whether you are getting the sealants for yourself or your kid, your teeth initially require thorough cleaning and drying. After the initial cleaning, the dentist applies an etching solution to rough the surface of the tooth to help the sealant adhere to the tooth.

After applying the etching solution, your teeth are again rinsed and dried. Finally, the dental sealant is quickly spread to the teeth using ultraviolet light to bond it to the tooth creating the protective barrier.

Why Must You Consider Dental Sealants over Your Teeth?

Leaving your teeth unprotected exposes them to the risk of cavities creating permanent damage in your tooth. If you leave holes untreated, the damage expands and becomes painful with infections. The bacteria in your mouth target the back molars because of the grooves they have on them.

Is It Expensive to Get Dental Sealants?

Children can get dental sealants for about $ 30-$ 60 per tooth, although dental insurance and some school-based programs can further reduce costs. As an adult, if you require dental sealants, it helps to inquire with the Auburn dentist how much it would cost you to have dental sealants on your teeth.

What Is Better Sealing the Tooth or Filling a Cavity?

Besides creating permanent damage in your tooth, Cavities require expensive treatments costing hundreds of dollars or more to treat. Cavities also weaken your tooth with fillings or untreated decay. You must schedule multiple appointments with your dentist to treat cavities if you develop them on your teeth. On the other hand, sealing your teeth with a protective barrier is affordable, and the treatment merely requires one appointment with your dentist to provide you peace of mind against a persistent problem.

Should You Get Sealants Even If You Drink Fluoridated Water?

You will benefit by learning sealants and fluoride both protect against tooth decay in different ways. Fluoride in water, toothpaste, and supplements helps strengthen your enamel to protect against cavities by making your teeth stronger. Dental sealants prevent the germs and food particles from trapping in the grooves of your back teeth by covering them with a protective shield helping prevent cavities because they prevent bacteria from penetrating your teeth. Therefore you must consider dental sealants even if you live in an area where fluoridated water is available.