Once permanent teeth come in, they should last a lifetime with proper oral care. Regular brushing and flossing are effective ways of combating cavities; however, cleaning all parts of your teeth effectively can be challenging due to rugged or uneven chewing surfaces in back molars or premolars, where food debris and cavity-causing bacteria often collect. A treatment known as dental sealants could make an extraordinary difference by giving additional protection.
Our back teeth, known as molars and premolars, naturally feature deep grooves and pits. Unfortunately, toothbrush bristles cannot reach these fissures to properly clean them, providing an ideal breeding ground for plaque that ultimately leads to decay. Dental sealants offer an effective means of providing protection where traditional cleaning methods fall short – simply applying sealant is all it takes!
Sealants should be seen as preventive rather than restorative measures. Whereas fillings repair existing cavities, sealants are designed to block out factors that lead to decay from ever forming in the first place by creating a smooth, sealed surface over your teeth – and by creating this seal, we can effectively block off decay-causing factors from ever developing.
HPS Dental takes an aggressive, proactive approach to modern dentistry. Instead of waiting until a problem occurs, our goal is to keep your teeth healthy from the very start by using sealants as part of an oral hygiene strategy, helping to avoid pain, discomfort, and costly procedures in the future.
What Are Dental Sealants?
A dental sealant is a thin protective coating made of plastic dental material applied by our staff to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth–your molars and premolars. Think of it like a barrier against food particles and bacteria getting trapped between deep grooves and pits, where food particles and bacteria tend to collect. Sealants don’t replace regular brushing and flossing regimens, however; rather they work alongside your routine in order to keep cavities away and reverse early signs of decay from progressing further – research shows sealants reduce risks by up to 80%!
Sealants are an incredible solution, as they directly target the most likely entryway for decay: deep crevices in your back teeth are nearly impossible for toothbrush bristles to access, no matter how hard you brush. A sealant fills these crevices completely, creating an easy surface to keep clean.
Sealants create a sterile environment on the tooth’s surface by sealing out food particles and bacteria, thereby eliminating acid production and demineralization that can lead to decay. Sealing protects teeth against the constant acid attacks that lead to cavities and keeps their enamel healthy and strong.
Dental sealants are made from a durable yet safe resin material that bonds securely to tooth enamel. Their strength is designed to withstand years of chewing forces, providing long-term protection for vulnerable teeth in your mouth – an excellent choice for keeping newly emerged ones intact!
How Do Dental Sealants Work?
Dental sealants serve a crucial purpose, like an umbrella for the teeth. Cavity-causing bacteria are present in every mouth, feeding off leftover food particles to produce acids that attack and dissolve tooth enamel. A sealant acts as an impenetrable barrier between harmful bacteria and acids from attacking the vulnerable grooves of your teeth and the vulnerable food particles that might otherwise access these grooves.
Sealants’ effectiveness lies in their ability to create an impenetrable barrier. By filling all microscopic pits and fissures, a sealant effectively eliminates hiding places for bacteria – creating an environment in which plaque, the sticky film that causes decay, cannot accumulate as easily or develop further, making your daily brushing and flossing regimen much more efficient.
The science behind this protection is straightforward: without food sources to feed on, bacteria cannot produce acids that lead to decay. By disrupting this entire decay process from its inception, sealants protect teeth against external threats while simultaneously helping ensure their enamel remains strong and healthy.
Sealed teeth also contribute to overall oral hygiene by providing a smooth surface where food particles and plaque can easily slide off, making your toothbrush and floss much more effective at clearing away these pollutants – helping both the health of each sealed tooth as well as an overall cleaner environment for you to breathe in.
Are Dental Sealants Appropriate for Me or My Child?
Children and adults alike can reap the benefits of sealants; however, their use is most widely recommended among kids and teenagers. Permanent molars usually erupt between six and twelve years of age, and as soon as these teeth fully emerge, we recommend sealing them early to ensure a cavity-free start and to save on costly dental work later on. At HPS Dental, we can discuss whether sealants might be an ideal solution for you or your children during your next appointment – come visit today to discover whether sealants might be right!
At its onset, teeth are most vulnerable. New enamel is still maturing, and deep grooves remain free of cavities; applying sealants at this crucial moment will protect their lives long into adulthood. For this reason, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends sealants as an essential defense measure against cavities among school-age children.
Adults who have had cavities in the past or have deep fissures on their molars can make great candidates for sealants. Sealants provide protection for healthy and cavity-free teeth for years afterward; it’s a great way for adults to prevent future decay while protecting existing ones without needing fillings.
Sealants can be an excellent financial investment. Their cost is far less than that associated with filling, crowning, or other restorative procedures for treating cavities; by taking this preventive step now, you are not only safeguarding the oral health of yourself and your family but also saving a substantial sum in the future.
Quick and Simple Application Process
Applying dental sealants is a quick, painless, and straightforward procedure that typically only takes minutes per tooth. After cleaning and drying the tooth thoroughly, an acidic gel is applied to its chewing surface in order to strengthen its bond with the sealant and create a stronger connection. After the gel is rinsed away and dried back into its original position on the chewing surface, sealant is applied using special tools. It is then hardened with special lights in minutes, making you ready for immediate use!
This process is non-invasive and does not require drilling or anesthesia. An acidic gel used to prepare the tooth is a mild solution that simply micro-roughens its surface for bonding with sealant, an essential step that ensures long-term protection and ensures sealants stay securely in place.
Once the sealant has been applied, we use a special curing light. This blue light activates the material, causing it to harden quickly into a durable plastic shield over tooth grooves within seconds – even children and those suffering from dental anxiety often find this procedure easy to endure.
After your sealant has set, there is no special care required; the surface is fully cured and ready for you to use once you leave the chair. Eating and drinking are as normal; your new sealed surface will feel completely natural and seamless.
Common Questions Regarding Dental Sealants
If a tooth shows early signs of decay, we may still be able to use sealants to protect it. With proper care and regular check-ups at HPS Dental, these sealants may last for many years with proper monitoring, so you’re assured they remain protective. Dental sealants are considered a safe and common dental treatment with no known adverse side effects; while they do contain trace amounts of BPA, which should not cause harm. Dental sealants typically last several years with proper maintenance. During regular checkups at HPS Dental, we will assess your condition to ensure your teeth remain protected.
Sealants provide a great defense against decay by “starving” bacteria of food and oxygen sources; by cutting off their access, we stop further decay progression. Additionally, clear or tooth-colored sealants make monitoring the tooth easier during regular dental check-ups.
BPA in sealants is often raised as a concern, yet it should be noted that its amount is extremely minimal–far lower than what could be found in everyday household products such as bottles. Major dental organizations like the American Dental Association have verified that sealants pose no health risk whatsoever, with the benefits far outweighing any possible risk from a minute amount of BPA contained within.
The length of time a dental sealant remains effective depends on a number of factors, including your chewing habits, teeth grinding activity, and oral hygiene maintenance practices. At HPS Dental, our team conducts regular inspections to ensure all sealants remain fully intact. If a sealant chips or wears down, repairs or reapplication can be easily and quickly applied, keeping your tooth protected. When sealants are applied, they should feel completely inconsequential – the material applied directly onto tooth grooves means it won’t interfere with chewing action or jaw movement whatsoever!
HPS Dental Offers Dental Sealant Services to Get Started Today
Don’t wait for cavities to form in hard-to-reach places before taking action to protect your smile with sealants. They provide easy and cost-effective protection that’s worth investing in for added peace of mind.
HPS Dental’s helpful team in Shelby Township, Michigan, would love to educate and assist with all your sealant-related inquiries or schedule a consultation session – reach us now on (248) 652-0024. We hope to hear from you soon!
