Dental sealants: A simple, cost effective cavity prevention treatment

Dental sealants are a painless and practical treatment choice to prevent tooth decay.

Back teeth (premolars and molars) have naturally occurring recesses and grooves on their biting surfaces. Also, at times, even anterior teeth have pits behind them in an area known as the cingulum. These crevices make teeth susceptible to sugar and plaque accumulation. The result is cavities that could be prevented.

In this column, I will address how the simple and painless treatment application of dental sealants can make a significant difference in cavity prevention.

Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth. They prevent dental caries (cavities). The sealant quickly bonds into the pits and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective cover over the enamel of the teeth. Sealants are less expensive than fillings and are a good preventive treatment in oral healthcare.

Although, as a good preventative measure, our patients are instructed to thoroughly brush and floss their teeth to remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth; however, they cannot effectively get into these grooves, pits and irregularities. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by blocking and sealing the area, thereby preventing the sticky plaque and foods from initiating the cavity process.

Sealants are usually recommended for children and teenagers because of the likelihood of developing decay in the grooves of newly erupted premolars and molars. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages six to 14. Adults can also benefit from sealants; however, the earlier you get them, the better.

Your first molars appear around age six, and second molars appear around age 12. Sealing these teeth as soon as they erupt, can keep them cavity-free from the start, which helps save money in the long run.

At times, dental sealants are also applied on primary (baby) teeth, especially when a child’s baby teeth have deep fissures and grooves. Although the baby teeth are lost naturally, it is important to preserve them during the teeth-changing years because they play an important role in holding the space for permanent teeth. In essence, their presence serves as a guide for the permanent teeth to erupt into the mouth. When this does not happen because of early baby-teeth loss, the permanent teeth will likely erupt crooked or remain trapped below the gum.

Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80 percent in molars. This is especially important when it comes to your child’s dental health. In October 2016, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report on the importance of sealants for school-aged children. They found that school-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.

Think of sealants as raincoats for your teeth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that live in everyone’s mouth meet residual food particles, they produce acids that create holes in your teeth. These holes are called cavities. When a sealant has been applied, it keeps the food out thereby stopping bacteria and acid from settling on your teeth- just like a raincoat would keep you clean and dry during rainfall.

Applying dental sealants is a quick and painless process. Your dentist will clean and dry your tooth before placing an acidic gel on your teeth. This gel conditions your tooth surface, so a strong bond will form between your tooth and the sealant. After a few seconds, your dentist will rinse off the gel and dry your tooth once again before applying the sealant onto the grooves of your tooth. Your dentist will then use a special blue light to harden the sealant.

Sealants will usually last for several years before they need to be reapplied. During your regular dental visit, your dentist will check the condition of the sealant and can reapply them as needed.

Dental sealants are important considerations in your oral health program. Since they are painless, can be easily applied and are cost effective, they can be of great value in preventing the most common disease among children – dental cavities.

• Dr. Kendal V.O. Major is the founder and CEO of the Center for Specialized Dentistry, which is a comprehensive family dental practice operating in New Providence and Grand Bahama. He is the first Bahamian specialist in gum diseases and dental implants since 1989. He is also a certified fast braces provider. His practice is located at 89 Collins Avenue, New Providence. He can be contacted at (242) 325-5165 or kmajorcsd@gmail.com. 

The post Dental sealants: A simple, cost effective cavity prevention treatment appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/dental-sealants-a-simple-cost-effective-cavity-prevention-treatment/