Everything You Need To Know About Dental Sealants

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are treatment options used in dentistry to protect teeth from tooth decay. When you consider the external structure of a tooth, you realize that there is a lot to it. Some of the front teeth have cingulum pits, while the back teeth have fissures. These definitions on the chewing surfaces of teeth are called recesses. The recesses on the biting surfaces of teeth make them prone to cavities and tooth decay. They create room for plaque build-up, which can cause an infection and cause decaying. Before such happens, dentists Park Ridge, IL recommends the use of dental sealants. The sealants feature a thin layer of protective material that is a plastic coating applied on the biting surfaces of teeth.

When Are Dental Sealants Placed?

Dental sealants in Park Ridge, IL are a dental treatment option for children. Most children need treatment because kids are not the best at taking care of their teeth. Technically, the sealants are used to protect permanent teeth from tooth decay.

Even then, you can consider tooth sealants near you as an adult, since age increases the risk of tooth decay. In that case, it is a preventive measure to protecting your teeth from cavities. For adults, the sealants are mostly used for molars and premolars, which are the most vulnerable to decay and cavities. In this case, they are called fissure sealants.

In other cases, a dentist can recommend dental sealants for sensitive teeth. When teeth are too sensitive, painting a layer of protection on the biting surfaces can reduce the sensitivity and alleviate discomfort for patients.

Why Get Dental Sealants?

If you are thorough and deliberate with brushing and flossing your teeth, then you are a step closer to achieving oral hygiene excellence. Regular brushing and flossing help get rid of food residues and plaque build-up from teeth. However, only the smooth surfaces of teeth are properly cleaned put by brushing and flossing. When it comes to reaching into the grooves and depressions of teeth, they are not as effective. In most cases, extracting all the food and plaque from the fissures is not possible. In time, the depressions of your teeth gather too much plaque and can start changing color. This is how cavities begin to form and tooth decay happens.

Truthfully, fluoride is very helpful in preventing tooth decay. It can help protect all the surfaces of the teeth from damage and plaque from accumulating and leaving an infection. However, for the extra protection of the grooved and pitted areas of your teeth, dental sealants are more efficient. Besides, they are necessary for preventive dentistry to help keep up with proper oral hygiene and maintain overall oral health.

What to Expect During a Sealants Procedure

Applying a dental sealant on a tooth is not a long or complex process. When the tooth is protected early, there are no affiliate treatments that must be done before the sealants are installed. Some of the steps to expect include:

• Tooth preparation – a dentist or dental hygienist must always prepare a patient’s teeth before any dental procedure. The preparation involves professional teeth cleaning to get rid of any plaque buildup on surfaces of teeth, between teeth and in the grooves and depressions. This will make sure the dental sealants are covering a healthy tooth that is not already infected.
• Isolation of the affected tooth – once the preparation is done, your dentist will identify the tooth that requires protection. The tooth is then etched on the surface, then dried properly to allow for proper application of the dental sealant.
• Application process – the dentist will use a brush to apply the sealant material on your tooth. The coating will then be hardened and bonded to your tooth with special ultraviolet light or laser. This ensures that the sealant is properly hardened so it does not peel off with time.
• Evaluation of the results – before you are cleared to go home, the dentist has to evaluate the results, once the sealant is properly hardened, it turns into a hard plastic that has bonded to your natural tooth. This will then allow for normal chewing after the treatment.