You should never stop practicing daily oral hygiene throughout your life, and that includes brushing and flossing every day. Getting rid of bacteria that forms on your teeth after you eat can help you prevent cavities and gum disease. At Pearl Dental in Pomona, we can help you find even more options to help boost daily hygiene and keep your teeth from building up harmful plaque and tartar.
One such option is a dental sealant. Dental sealants adhere to your back teeth, acting as a protective shield to keep food particles from getting into hard-to-reach places. But many patients have questions about this thin coating. What exactly do dental sealants do? How long do sealants last? After some time, dental sealants need to be replaced with new ones.
Keep reading to find out more about how sealants work and how often you need them as a way to keep your teeth free from forming cavities.
What Exactly are Dental Sealants?
Experts at the ADA’s Mouth Healthy compare dental sealants to raincoats for your teeth. This thin sheeting is like a new protective layer over your back teeth, which are the most susceptible to cavities. After we apply the sealant, the harmful bacteria won’t be able to settle there. This is similar to how a raincoat can keep you dry and protect your body from the raindrops that hit you.
We apply sealants as a super-thin coating on your teeth. The procedure does not require any kind of incision or numbing. It is 100% painless, as it is just a thin material layered onto the surface of your teeth. We place gel onto your teeth to act as an adhesive, and then rinse it off while we apply the sealant in the grooves and crannies of the tooth.
It’s as simple as that! In fact, this procedure is largely aimed at children to help them drastically reduce their chances of getting cavities.
Why Should Kids Get Sealants?
According to a groundbreaking study by the CDC, dental sealants are 3 times more effective at preventing cavities in children aged 6-11 than not having sealants at all. Most kids without any form of dental protection are much more likely to develop cavities in the molars at a young age. Many of those cavities end up going untreated for a long while.
Dental sealants can prevent infections and other harmful conditions in young children. Sealants give them something to protect their teeth all day long. While kids are learning how to practice good dental hygiene, they will also have the benefits of having that extra layer to prevent cavities.
Not to mention, dental sealants are very affordable and very easy to apply, with no pain or side effects. This quick and budget-friendly procedure can save potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars in future dental care costs due to an untreated cavity.
How Long Do They Last?
With good care and maintenance, dental sealants can last over a decade. What’s better, you don’t need to remove them to replace them with new ones. They will slowly wear away over the course of time, harmlessly dissolved. So, when it’s time to get new ones put on, your teeth will be all ready to go with no extra procedures required.
You can get them checked up on every time you visit your Pomona dentist for a cleaning or exam. If you think dental sealants are a good choice for yourself or your children, make an appointment with your local dentist to help prevent cavities and infection!
Get Dental Sealants ASAP
If you’re ready to take the next step in cavity prevention, consult with your Dental Care of Pomona professional today! This is especially important for the safety of your kids, as they can be over 300% safer with dental sealants than without them. Not to mention, sealants can last for many years, preventing hefty dental repair costs.
For more information about dental sealants, or to schedule your consultation, you can contact us online. You should also feel free to call us at (909) 344-3543 to request an appointment.
