{"id":1872,"date":"2021-06-24T02:10:41","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T02:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drgalaif.com\/?p=1872"},"modified":"2023-11-21T00:59:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T00:59:00","slug":"the-benefits-of-sealants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drgalaif.com\/the-benefits-of-sealants\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Sealants"},"content":{"rendered":"

A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surface of your tooth, usually on the back teeth (premolars and molars).\u00a0 Sealants can prevent tooth decay and cavities for many years, protecting the chewing surfaces from cavities by covering them with a protective shield that blocks out germs and food. \u00a0Once applied, sealants can protect against up to 80% of cavities, according to the American Dental Association<\/em>.\u00a0 Sealants quickly bond into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.\u00a0 Although thorough brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, they cannot always get into all the smaller openings in back teeth to remove all the food and plaque that may be lodged there over time.<\/p>\n

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A cavity is a permanent hole in your tooth. \u00a0If not treated, it will get bigger, can cause discomfort and extreme pain, and may get infected. The most common place for cavities is in the grooves of the back teeth.\u00a0 Sealants are a quick, easy, and painless way to prevent cavities. \u00a0A tooth without a cavity is obviously stronger and healthier than a tooth with a filling or untreated decay. \u00a0Sealants are also less expensive and easier to apply than fillings.\u00a0 Fillings<\/em> are considered restorative<\/u> applications. Sealants<\/em>, on the other hand, are preventive<\/u>. \u00a0A filling is used to repair damage that has already occurred to a tooth, usually from dental decay. \u00a0A sealant is used to cover a portion of a tooth to prevent damage from occurring in the future.<\/p>\n

Dental Fillings<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A filling is necessary to restore a tooth after a cavity or hole has formed from tooth decay. \u00a0Tooth decay is damage to a tooth\u2019s enamel from oral acids. \u00a0The acids dissolve the minerals that make up the enamel, such as phosphorous and calcium. \u00a0This dissolution weakens the tooth enamel and causes holes or cavities to form in the material.\u00a0 Once a cavity has formed and in order to treat the tooth, Dr. Galaif removes the decayed portion of the enamel, cleans the area, and fills in the hole. \u00a0This filling prevents additional damage to the tooth by blocking the entry of oral bacteria that could cause an infection or greater decay.<\/p>\n

Dental Sealants<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sealants may be applied to a tooth that has not suffered any decay. \u00a0They are usually added to the chewing surfaces of the molars. \u00a0These areas are deeply grooved and allow food and plaque to easily settle on the teeth. The sealants help fill the grooves, while simultaneously forming a barrier to protect the teeth from oral acids.\u00a0 Since oral acids are byproducts that are released by the bacteria of the mouth after digestion, the deep grooves of the molars are the perfect setting for decay. \u00a0Bacteria feed on carbohydrates that are left in the mouth, and the deep crevices trap leftover debris from meals and snacks. The bacteria mixes with the debris to form plaque, which sticks to the teeth and allows the acid to make direct contact with the enamel before the acid is significantly diluted by saliva. \u00a0As a result, tooth decay is more likely.\u00a0 Dental sealants shield the tooth enamel from the oral acid and plaque, thus your teeth are protected from decay.<\/p>\n

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Who Should Get Sealants?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of premolars and molars, children and teenagers are typical candidates for sealants \u2013 applying them to their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. \u00a0In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14.\u00a0 In some cases, dental sealants may also be appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child’s baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves. \u00a0Because baby teeth play such an important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it is critical to keep these teeth healthy so they are not lost too early.\u00a0 When the first adult molars come into your child\u2019s mouth (around age 6), most parents do not realize their children have these molars because they usually come in at the back of the mouth, behind the baby teeth.\u00a0 The most likely location for a cavity to develop in your child\u2019s mouth is on the chewing surfaces of those back teeth. If you run your tongue over this area in your mouth, and you will feel the reason why \u2013 these surfaces are not smooth as other areas of your teeth are. \u00a0Instead, they are filled with tiny grooves referred to as \u201cpits and fissures,\u201d which trap bacteria and food particles. The bristles on a toothbrush can\u2019t always reach all the way into these dark, moist little crevices. This creates the perfect conditions for tooth decay.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, a child\u2019s newly erupted permanent teeth are not as resistant to decay as adult teeth are. \u00a0The hard enamel coating that protects teeth changes as it ages to become stronger. \u00a0Fluoride, which is found in toothpaste and some drinking water \u2014 and in treatments provided at Dr. Galaif\u2019s office \u2014 can strengthen enamel, but again, it\u2019s hard to get fluoride into those pits and fissures on a regular basis.\u00a0 This is why sealants are such an important, preventative measure in children.<\/p>\n

Adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from applying sealants to their teeth.<\/p>\n

How Are Sealants Applied?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Applying a sealant is a simple and painless process. \u00a0It takes only a few minutes for your dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant and to seal each tooth.<\/p>\n

The application steps are as follows:<\/p>\n