If your child’s dentist has told you they need sealants for their teeth, you might wonder what they are and how they work. This article explains everything you need to know about dental sealants and how they can protect your child’s teeth and smile.
According to the American Dental Association, sealants are plastic-like, flowable materials placed over the biting surfaces of back teeth to prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants are one of the most effective measures to prevent tooth decay in susceptible children and adults.
Not everyone needs dental sealants for their teeth; they are necessary for individuals with a higher susceptibility to developing dental caries. To understand this, we should first visualize the anatomy of the back teeth. Our back teeth have wide chewing surfaces that contain grooves and pits called fissures and pits, respectively. In some individuals, these pits and fissures are very deep. As a result, they have higher chances of food impaction in their back teeth and hence, are at a higher risk of developing tooth decay as brushing alone is sometimes insufficient to clean these surfaces.
That’s where dental sealants come in! The sealants are low-viscosity materials that flow over the biting surfaces of the teeth. As a result, there are lesser chances of food impaction in pits and fissures of the back teeth. That is why they’re called pits and fissure sealants.
Yes, dental sealants are highly effective. For example, a 2016 clinical study revealed that children and adolescents who received dental sealants had significantly lower incidences of tooth decay than those who did not. In addition, dental sealants are even more effective than fluoride varnishes.
Similarly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), once applied, dental sealants prevent up to 80% of dental cavities for 2 years and up to 50% for up to 4 years.
The procedure for getting dental sealants is straightforward. First, your dentist will clean the chewing surfaces of your back teeth – the premolars and the molars. Afterward, they will place a gel on the cleaned tooth surface, which creates microporosities. Finally, the sealant is allowed to flow over and get bonded to the tooth surface.
Yes, dental sealants are safe! There have been some concerns regarding the harmful effect of Bisphenol-A (BPA) containing sealants. However, research has shown that the amount of BPA in dental sealants is too low to cause any untoward reaction or side effects.
With proper care and oral hygiene maintenance, dental sealants can last for a long time with good care and oral hygiene maintenance. According to the CDC, dental sealants can last even after 9 years of placement. However, in some cases, the sealant coating may fall off. But, there is no need to worry in case that happens as your dentist will replace it with another coating in no time!
Dental sealants are one of the most effective yet cost-effective caries-preventive options. Dental sealants are also covered by virtually all the major US insurance companies. Hence, you most likely, you won’t have to pay anything for your child’s sealant treatment.
In today’s world, the focus of dentists is on preventing dental problems than treatment. Therefore, dentists worldwide are taking measures to avoid the restoration of damaged teeth using dental fillings, which are costly and less tooth conservative. One such preventive measure is dental sealants.
So, if you want to keep your kids protected from tooth decay and ensure that they retain their adorable smiles lifelong, visit us today at Royal Dental to protect their teeth with dental sealants. Book an appointment today!
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Dr. Bollman graduated in 2003 from the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, TX. She has been practicing for 17 years. She enjoys playing video games, fishing and spending quality time with her 2 children[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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It’s important that each patient enjoys their dental visit, and that we carefully listen to their concerns in terms they’ll understand.
Dr. Stewart has practiced dentistry for 25 years!
She’s been with Royal Dental for 5 years!
We’re successful thanks to teammates like Nancy![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Dr. Andress has been a Dentist for 37 years!
He’s been with Royal Dental for 8 years!
He is a 1982 Graduate of University of Texas Dental School San Antonio
Hobbies include hunting, vacationing and visiting the beach[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Dr. Shokralla was born and raised in Cario Egypt. After graduating from Dental school from Ain Shams University iSchool of Dentistry in 2011, he did a general dentistry internship and he worked in a private Office in Cario. In 2013, Dr Shokralla moved to the United States seeking a new journey. He joined Boston University of Dentistry for advanced Standing Program graduated in 2017 with high honors. during his program at Boston, He served also as a teaching assistant in the removable Prosthodontics Department. Once his studies were completed in Boston he moved to Houston Texas to enjoy the warm Winters and people. Dr. Shokralla is a member of the ADA and he is active with CE Implant Courses.
Besides his passion about dentistry , he loves to work out play tennis and soccer, serve kids in his local Sunday School.
“Learn from yesterday ,live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning” Albert Einstein
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Bryan Boshart DDS MS is a 1985 graduate of UT Dental School and in 1986 at U Of Maryland College of Dental Surgery, earned a Certificate Of Advanced General Dentistry. In 1989 at the University Of Oklahoma College Master Of Science he earned his Certificate of Specialty in Orthodontics. For 20 years he was a Director of Orthodontics at Texas Children’s Hospital. His hobbies include gardening and juggling![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Dr. Harris Graduated in 1986 from the UT Health Science Center, San Antonio. He has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years, and in his time off enjoys Motor Cross, Rugby, distance running, fishing and hunting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Dr. Bhakti graduated in 2000 from University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and has been practicing for 20 years. He enjoys Hikaru and Dorodango[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Dr. Rassner graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center Houston in 1972 and has been practicing for 48 years! In his free time he enjoys playing golf and watching baseball.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Dr. Mughni attended the Baqai Dental College in 2003 and 2004 and graduated from the University of California San Francisco in 2013. He has been practicing dentistry for 16 years. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and reading.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]