When you go to the full-service car wash near you, do you opt for the deluxe package that includes all the sealants? Those sealants promise to protect your car’s paint job from rust and the harm of the sun’s rays and more — even the corrosive effects of road salt if you happen to travel north from the sunny climes of Florida. Dental sealants are sort of the same thing — except for kids’ teeth.
Dental sealants are a layer of liquid plastic-like material that is painted onto the teeth in your child’s mouth that are most vulnerable to tooth decay and cavities — her molars and premolars. Those molars and premolars have lots of grooves, crevices and depressions where plaque and tartar can accumulate and fuel the development of cavities. When the liquid sealant painted onto those teeth dries and hardens, it forms a shield that physically prevents plaque, tartar, bacteria, food particles, starches and sugars from even coming into contact with those teeth.
Who is a good candidate for dental sealants?
The ideal candidate for getting dental sealants in Carrollwood is a child between the age of six and 14. Kids in that age range are especially vulnerable to tooth decay and to developing cavities. Applying dental sealants to those vulnerable teeth — baby OR permanent teeth — can save those kids from the stress of a cavity and filling — and can save parents from the related expenses (in time, money and inconvenience). You might ask “what’s the point of sealing baby teeth, since they’re going to fall out anyway?” Don’t underestimate the importance of those baby teeth. They define the channel that your child’s later teeth will follow. Losing a tooth prematurely because of tooth decay and cavities can lead to more complicated and expensive problems down the road. Untreated tooth decay can also lead to gum disease that can place your child’s oral health at broader risk. Sealing up those baby teeth is a quick and easy insurance policy to protect against those risks.
BONUS TIP! So far, we’ve been talking about kids, but kids aren’t the only good candidate sealants. Sealants can protect grownups’ teeth from tooth decay, too. Adults whose molars are not already affected by tooth decay and who don’t already have fillings in those teeth are good candidates for getting dental sealants near you.
What is the process of getting sealants?
Obtaining dental sealants from a dentist in Carrollwood as a child or an adult is a simple and quick five-step process that takes just minutes for each tooth being sealed. Here are the steps in the process:
- Your dentist or hygienist will clean the teeth to be sealed thoroughly to make sure the sealant doesn’t trap any food particles or harmful substances against your teeth once applied
- To ensure the sealant can harden effectively, the targeted teeth will be dried completely. A guard or dam will be put in place around the teeth to keep them dry when the sealant is being painted on
- Your dentist will use a mild and completely safe acid solution to roughen up the teeth so the sealant can bond effectively to it
- The teeth will rinsed and again dried
- Finally, your dentist will brush the liquid sealant onto your teeth where it will harden as it dries. A curing light may be shone onto the teeth to speed up the curing and bonding process.
In just a few minutes, your teeth will receive protection from tooth decay and cavities, which protection will last for a decade. Your dentist will take a look at the sealed teeth at every checkup to make sure the protection hasn’t been worn or chipped away. If that does happen, ask a dentist near you to touch it up or to replace the protective sealant.