Your teeth are a treasure. Teeth that are in great condition affect how people perceive you and how you build a relationship with them. They provide you with a more confident smile, thereby making you look more than average. In terms of work, great teeth make you look neater, more professional, and smarter,

Tooth decay is very problematic. It makes your teeth a bane instead of a boon. Once decayed, the teeth can be painful, make your breath sour, and damage the gums. Dental methods make it easy to reverse. Nevertheless, prevention is always better than cure.

So how do you prevent tooth decay? Aside from brushing your teeth regularly, you might want to get dental sealants. Dental sealants are highly effective, especially for kids. Let’s talk about it in this article. Get all the information here.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are a liquid coating that hardens once applied to the enamel of the teeth. Specifically, it’s commonly administered on teeth directly involved with chewing, such as the molars, premolars, and canines.

Applying a dental sealant is a cheap service that dental clinics provide. School clinics offer it to students without charge.

How Do Dental Sealants Work?

Once they harden on the teeth, dental sealants work as a thin layer of extra coating that protects the enamel of the teeth. They make it hard for plaque, tartar, and cavities to seep through the enamel, your teeth’s first line of defense against tooth decay.

But how do cavities, plaque, and tartar damage the teeth? These three are a healthy breeding ground for bacteria. Bacterias gradually infect the teeth and slowly enter the enamel, eventually reaching the dentin, pulp, and cementum.

Are Dental Sealants Effective?

Sealants are effective, especially for kids. It ensures that children’s teeth stay in tip-top shape even if they feel too lazy to brush occasionally. Even so, don’t get misled. Dental sealants cannot protect the teeth on their own. Proper dental hygiene, such as regular brushing and monthly cleaning sessions, is still needed.

The effects of dental sealants on teeth are subject to further research, and many findings are still emerging. One interesting study shows the effect of ultraviolet-polymerized dental sealants on teeth carriers and the accompanying bacteria. As per the results, bacteria were greatly reduced in two weeks.

How Are Sealants Administered?

It might be safe to say that dental sealants are the most pain-free method for ensuring the teeth stay healthy and strong. But why do we say this? Look at the quick bullet, which shows how dentists administer dental sealants.

  • the top part of the teeth is brushed and cleaned to remove existing foreign materials
  • the tooth is then dried with cotton or a suction tool
  • a dental solution is then applied to the tooth, which acts as an adhesive for the sealant
  • the dental solution is then left to dry
  • the sealant is applied and is left to settle

How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?

Dental sealants last from two to 5 years. However, the longer they’re worn, the lesser their efficacy is. With that said, reapplication of dental sealant every two years is recommended.

Final Words

Application of dental sealants is recommended for children. However, this doesn’t mean that adults can’t have them too. As long as your teeth are in tip-top shape to hold them, dental sealants will be useful even if you’re a full-fledged adult at age 25 or more.