Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of tooth loss and tooth pain. Both of these situations are very unpleasant but they can be prevented. Most dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily to maintain your oral health and prevent tooth decay. However, this is not always enough and people can still develop cavities. Thankfully, there is another way to ensure that your teeth stay healthy. Dental sealants have been around for years and have benefited many patients. In this article, you will learn about this dental procedure and how effective it is.
What are dental sealants?
A dental sealant is a plastic material that is placed over the chewing surface of your teeth by a dentist near you. It helps prevent tooth decay by acting as a barrier between your teeth and the food and bacteria in your mouth. As you probably know, cavities are formed due to the acids in plaque, which destroy the outer layer of your teeth (the enamel). By acquiring dental sealants in Sherwood Park, you are preventing plaque from touching your enamel. Therefore, your teeth will remain intact.
Can you place dental sealants on all your teeth?
If you are interested in dental sealants near you, you should know that it isn’t necessary to place them on all of your teeth, but rather on those which are the most prone to tooth decay. These are the teeth in the back of your mouth (molars and premolars). The reason for this is that these teeth have an irregular chewing surface with multiple grooves and depressions. Therefore, it is difficult to eliminate all the bacteria and food on them with just a toothbrush and dental floss.
Who should acquire dental sealants?
Normally, dental sealants are used in children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 14 since these are known as the cavity-prone years. However, this doesn’t mean that people outside of this age range don’t develop dental cavities. Preventing tooth decay should be kept in mind well into your adulthood. Visiting a dentist in Sherwood Park and acquiring dental sealants is an excellent way to do so. This procedure is not that common in adults, but it offers the same benefits as it does for children and teenagers.
What should you expect from the procedure?
Obtaining dental sealants is a very simple procedure that takes about 30 minutes. First of all, your dentist has to prepare your teeth for the sealant by cleaning its surface and drying it. Afterward, the surface of your teeth has to be roughened up so that the sealant adheres perfectly to it. To do so, an acidic solution is applied to your teeth. This solution is rinsed out and your teeth are dried once again. At this point, your dentist will apply the sealant and use a special light to solidify it.
Should you take special care of the sealants?
Immediately after receiving dental sealants, you will be able to eat, drink, and brush your teeth normally. There is no need for any special care. However, you should still maintain your oral health habits by brushing your teeth daily and flossing once a day. Remember that the dental sealants provide some extra protection but don’t make you immune to tooth decay. Also, dental sealants last approximately 10 years, so once this time passes you will need to have them replaced.
Further protection
If you are looking for other ways to prevent tooth decay, aside from great oral health habits and dental sealants, you should limit your sugar intake since sugars tend to remain on the surface of your teeth and becomes digested by harmful bacteria.