Dental Health and Tooth Sealants
Posted on Thu, Sep 16, 2010
You may have caught our recent blogs about the importance of nutrition and fluoride in tooth decay prevention—and you may even be a meticulous brusher/flosser. But even if you’re a dental hygiene expert, your teeth still contain vulnerable grooves, depressions and chewing surfaces that are tricky to reach with any toothbrush—no matter how careful you are. That’s why your 
Boston dentist may recommend dental sealants as a last line of protection against plaque, bacteria and tooth decay.
What are Dental Sealants, and How Are They Applied?
Dental sealants are painless, plastic shields that ward off dental caries (cavities). Before applying sealants, your dentist or hygienist will thoroughly clean and dry each tooth, and cover it in cotton to keep it dry during the sealant procedure. Then, using a mild acid solution, the dentist will (1) roughen the tooth’s surface so it clings effectively to the sealant, and (2) clean off the acid and dry the tooth a second time. The final step is to spread the sealant onto the enamel of each tooth with a small brush or applicator. Then your dentist will use a special curing light to quickly harden and permanently bond the sealant to the tooth.
Do I Really Need Sealants?
Don’t listen to your friends if they claim that sealants are simply a marketing tool for dentists. They’re not. Instead, they’re an affordable, simple tool for preventing costly, painful tooth decay—and that’s why your dentist recommends them. Sealants are most commonly recommended for children, teenagers and adults without significant molar decay.
The best time to get sealants is when your child’s permanent molars come in. This allows the sealants to shield your child’s teeth from decay during the years that they’re still learning to brush effectively. However, if your younger child’s baby teeth look especially vulnerable to decay, your dentist may recommend sealants for them to avoid losing them to early decay. If your child loses their baby teeth too early, adult tooth spacing can be problematic.
If you have a tendency to develop common pit and fissure decay as an adult, your dentist may recommend sealants for you, too. Ask whether sealants are an option—so you can reduce your filling frequency.
Other Benefits of Sealants
In addition to their proven ability to fight off cavities, sealants are often covered by insurance. They also offer a number of other benefits, including:
- Short, pain-free application time
- 10-year (or more) lifespan
- Easy reapplication as needed
- Prevention of up to 80 percent of tooth decay in children, and powerful prevention for qualified adults, as well!
Contact Smile and Skin today to schedule a consultation. Dr. Meola and his team will determine whether you’re a candidate for dental sealants, and recommend other routes for tooth decay prevention. Smile and Skin cosmetic dental experts can help you create and protect your healthy smile--starting today. Call 781-893-7500 to get started!