Model Dental Clinic- An Insight to Dental Sealants and their Effects

A dental sealant consists of plastic or few other dental material. The sealant is put onto the chewing surfaces of the molars. This sealant is not meant to replace a daily oral hygiene routine, but, instead, to support it. They could help prevent cavities by ‘filling-in’ those nooks and crannies where food debris remains, and bacteria hides.

Dental Sealant Procedure

Treatment is completed within one office visit and is usually simple, fast, and painless. Patients can return to normal dietary and lifestyle habits within few minutes after the treatment is over. The procedure include three steps:

• Sealants are direct restorations, which clearly indicates they are made inside of the mouth and not in a dental laboratory. First, the dentist cleans and dries the tooth to make it ready for treatment.
• An acidic gel is put into the grooves on the tooth. After 20 to 30 seconds, the etchant starts to open up tiny pores on the enamel surface that the sealant bonds to.
• Next, the dentist washes out the acidic gel and dries the tooth again. Then they fix the sealant material into the grooves of the patient’s tooth. Lastly, they cure the sealant either chemically known as glass ionomer or with a unique dental light called as composite resin. Both types of sealant materials come in a liquid form.

How often do they need to be replaced?

They typically last for five to ten years. They are incredibly effective but dentist at Model Dental Clinic would want to monitor them during regular dental examinations. Naturally, there are few things like chewing on pencils or biting down on hard stuff that could wear down the dental sealant.If the dentist observe that they are wearing down, they might recommend that they are replaced so that the adults and their children can continue to benefit from this layer of protection.

Who should get dental sealants?

Both adults and children can get dental sealants. However, this procedure is most typically performed on children that have not yet suffered from tooth decay at least on the tooth or teeth in question. If the person or anyone in the family has deep ridges in the teeth, this could be a beneficial solution for maintaining optimal oral health.

Side Effects of Sealants

Sealants usually protect against 80 percent of cavities for 2 years and will continue to protect against 50 percent of cavities for almost 4 years.One should also know that sealants consist of a small amount of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical present in plastics. Many parents avoid BPA products because it has been linked to health problems in infants and children. However, the American Dental Association (ADA) reports there is no proof that exposure to BPA in a dental sealant has any bad health effects.

The only potential side effect of sealant on the teeth is a possible allergy to it. The reactions related to dental sealants are infrequent. As always, it’s best to discuss with a dental professional about any allergies one has. This is a crucial step to take whether one need sealants or not.