What is Dental Sealant?
The application of dental sealant is a relatively inexpensive and painless treatment process that helps protect back teeth from cavities and tooth decay. Sealant is essentially a thin layer of plastic coating, and it is placed on the chewing surface of teeth in the back of the mouth, usually the molars and premolars. Once applied, the sealant quickly bonds with the tiny grooves and depressions of the teeth, forming a protective coat over the enamel.
Why Apply Sealant to Healthy Teeth
Dental sealant is a preventive treatment, and it is applied to healthy teeth. The chewing surface of back teeth (the part that comes in contact with food) have depressions and fissures. Sometimes these are narrower than a single bristle of a toothbrush. This makes it extremely hard to clean out plaque and food particles. The food remnants that get lodged in these tiny fissures may develop harmful bacteria over time that cause cavities and tooth decay. Once applied, sealant forms a smooth surface over the pitted areas and grooves, keeping out plaque and food debris for good.
The Right Age for Sealant
Since dental sealant is applied to protect healthy, permanent teeth, the best age for this treatment is between 11-13 years old. This is when permanent back teeth erupt in children. Furthermore, the teen years are when kids are most prone to developing cavities. However, even adults are good candidates for dental sealant, as long as the teeth are healthy and cavity-free. Your dentist will generally advise whether sealant is needed, at a regular dental check-up. At times, dental sealant may even be recommended for a baby’s primary teeth. This is when the teeth have exceptionally deep grooves and depressions that put them at high risk of developing cavities. The baby teeth play a vital role in developing the right spacing in the mouth for the permanent teeth, so it is important to keep these healthy and make sure they don’t fall off prematurely.
The Sealant Application Process
As mentioned above, the application of sealant is painless. It is also a relatively simple process that only takes a few minutes. To begin with, your dentist will thoroughly clean the teeth on which sealant needs to be applied. After the cleaning, the teeth are dried with cotton or a similar absorbent material, and an acid solution is applied to the chewing surface. This roughens up the area, so that the sealant may bond properly with the tooth surface. Finally, the sealant is carefully painted on the tooth enamel. It quickly bonds and hardens. Your dentist may use a special curing light to quicken the process.
Care and Maintenance
Dental sealant typically remains effective for about 10 years after application. However, regular dental check-ups are required to make sure that the sealant has not worn off or got chipped prematurely. In such cases, the sealant can easily be replaced. Bear in mind that applying sealant does not mean that you can get careless with your oral hygiene. Sealant only protects the chewing surface where it has been applied. Regular brushing and fluoride are still required to protect all your teeth.
