WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SEALANTS
Protective coating applied to molars helps prevent cavities
It is important to prevent cavities with regular brushing and flossing, but some places are harder to clean than others. The back teeth that you do most of the chewing with, called molars, have grooves and crevices that can be very difficult to get into. Those difficult places to clean are called pits and fissures and are a great place for leftover food and the bacteria that cause cavities, to hide.
Fortunately, there is another way to keep those areas clean and free of debris. It’s called a dental sealant. It consists of a thin protective coating that bonds to the surface of the chewing surface of the tooth.
This coating may be made of plastic or another dental material that flows into the grooves of the tooth and is cured with a light. The teeth must still be cleaned regularly with brushing and flossing, but the sealant can keep cavities from developing or may even prevent the early stages of decay from becoming cavities that need to be fixed.
Sealants cut the risk of decay in molars by nearly 80%. When it comes to your child’s dental health that is especially important.
The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in October 2016 on the importance of sealants for schoolaged children. Nationally only 43% of children ages 6-11 have received sealants. The CDC reports that “schoolaged children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.”
HOW DO SEALANTS WORK?
Cavity-causing bacteria are already in everyone’s mouth. When these bacteria encounter left over food particles, they produce acids that can erode holes in the teeth. These holes are cavities. A sealant acts like a shield preventing food debris from accumulating in the grooves and resisting bacterial acid from setting on the teeth. Sealants are a barrier protecting the teeth.
WHO CAN GET SEALANTS?
People of any age may benefit from sealants, generally the earlier you get them the better protected you will be. Kids get their first molar around age 6 and their second molars around age 12. Making sure these teeth are sealed before a cavity gets started saves the difficulty and the cost of needing a filling. Your dentist can tell you if you are a good candidate for sealants.
HOW ARE SEALANTS APPLIED?
Sealants are placed quickly and can be done without making the teeth numb. After cleaning and drying the tooth, your dentist will place a few drops of conditioner on the tooth to etch the surface and allow a strong bond between the tooth and the sealant. After a few seconds the conditioner is rinsed away and the sealant is flowed over the etched surface and into the grooves on he tooth. The sealant becomes hard after your dentist shines a special blue light on the tooth.
CAN SEALANTS BE PLACED OVER CAVITIES?
If decay is just getting started in the grooves of the tooth and has not damaged the structure, it may be possible to place a sealant over the area and prevent the cavity from advancing. Your dentist will thoroughly evaluate whether this decay is a cavity that needs to be filled or whether a sealant will prevent it from getting worse. Sealed decay must be monitored closely following the procedure.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Other than a rare allergy to the sealant material, there are no known side effects with sealants.
HOW LONG DO SEALANTS LAST?
Typically, sealants last for several years. Your dentist will examine sealed teeth at regular checkups to determine whether the sealant needs to be reapplied. Depending on your circumstances the benefits of early sealing may last long after most of the sealant is worn away.
ARE SEALANTS COVERED BY DENTAL PLANS?
Sealants may be covered by your insurance plan as a preventive procedure. You should check with your benefit provider to determine if they are included in your plan and what limitations may apply.