Dental Sealants for Adults
Cary Dental sealants are such a simple way to protect teeth why wouldn’t everyone ask for an application? Most often associated with children because they are such a valuable tool in fighting tooth decay a dental sealant can deliver the same benefits to an adult. The same reasons apply to all ages. Let’s look at the anatomy of the mouth, the dental sealant procedure and how the sealant works to deliver the protective benefits.
The Reasons behind needing Dental Sealants
No human being can avoid bacteria in their mouths. In fact, every day all of us have millions of bacteria in our mouths. These bacteria are necessary to break down food and get the necessary nutrients to sustain life. Too much bacteria in the mouth though will after only four hours turn into a clear, sticky substance called plaque. This plaque loves to adhere to your teeth. The bacteria in the plaque delivers an acid which will attack the enamel of the tooth immediately and result in a cavity and decay. Simply stated, a dental sealant is a protective coating to help fend off this damaging plaque.
The Dental Sealant Procedure
A simple and pain-free process, the dentist or hygienist will professionally scale your teeth giving you properly cleaned teeth. The teeth might be polished as well before a mild acid gel is applied to etch the enamel surface. This material is rinsed off, the teeth are dried, and the dental sealant is brushed or painted on. Mostly applied on the chewing surface the sealant is then cured and hardened with an ultraviolet light. This finishing step takes only about 30 seconds. You are now left with a thin, plastic like coating that is like a raincoat draped over your teeth.
How they work and the Benefits of Dental Sealants
Each and every tooth has microscopic grooves and fissures in the surface of that hard enamel. The dental sealant fills those tiny crevices prohibiting the plaque from hiding in these tough to reach areas for a tooth brush. This protective measure is most advantageous in children because of their inability to brush their molars because of their lack of attention and lack of patience. The life expectancy of dental sealants can be upwards to ten years which gets children through the challenging growing years. Those same benefits though are extended to adults. Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay by close to 80% in those hard to reach molars.
Daily Oral Hygiene is still Important
The health industry strongly suggests that all of us brush our teeth twice a day for two minutes each time to keep up with the removal of plaque. Flossing is a suggested step to remove the plaque from between the teeth. The dental sealant does not replace these measures. It is designed to be an additional protection. Consult with your dentist at your next examination and see if you would benefit from having dental sealants. It may not be necessary or beneficial. Healthy teeth result in a healthy smile.
More information on Dental Sealants : How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?