The majority of the older generation was raised in a world without sealants. However, the good news is that dental sealants in Danvers can help these individuals and their kids. These essential elements will aid in cavity prevention for the teeth. Your dentist can explain to you how sealants are used in protective dentistry. If necessary, they will also provide treatment.
Understanding Dental Sealants
Sealants are a type of barrier that dentists use to protect teeth in protective dentistry. The coatings on the teeth, particularly the chewing surfaces, act as these barriers. The coating prevents food particles and germs from sticking to teeth and causing decay. Prior to needing a replacement, getting dental fillings and sealants can protect your teeth for two to four years.
The teeth of children are not as sturdy as those of adults. Their teeth include depressions and grooves at the back that aid in chewing but also serve to trap food and debris that can be challenging to brush out. As a result, this location becomes a good place for tooth decay to start.
Importance of Dental Sealants
Sealants protect chewing surfaces from cavities by encasing them in a barrier that prevents food and germs from entering. Once used, sealants offer 80% protection against cavities for two years and 50% protection for up to four years. But what is a cavity, exactly? It is a permanent hole in a tooth.
Who Should Get Dental Sealants?
Depending on the regulations in your state, either a dental hygienist or a dentist in Danvers can apply a sealant. Pediatric dentistry practices offer sealants for kids. Before starting the operation, experts providing this service will first inspect and clean your teeth.
The process is quite straightforward and painless. A sealant material is inserted between the teeth that make up the biting surface. The sealants will then be hardened by the dentist’s placement of a special light above the teeth that have them. People who have dental anxiety may want to enroll in sedation and other programs first before having this operation done.
Maintaining Dental Sealants
Sometimes a sealant may get loosened. If it does, it usually happens within the first month of being implanted. As a result, dentists advise clients to periodically inspect the tooth sealant in the weeks that follow. They must go to the dental office to make a new appointment if one is missing. It can be applied again as often as necessary, but typically just one application is sufficient. The presence and functionality of dental sealants near you will be examined during each checkup visit.
Here at two main pointers for maintaining sealants:
- Brush your teeth thoroughly
While the sealant protects your teeth’s biting surfaces, bacteria from plaque and tartar may still accumulate on the sides of your teeth and in the spaces between them.
Even if sealants are present, brush all surfaces of the teeth. Make use of toothpaste and a toothbrush with soft bristles. Just like a tooth that is not sealed, the sides and tops of sealed teeth should be brushed.
Despite sealants’ protection of the teeth, gum disease may still develop if tartar builds up along the gum line. To remove food particles and bacterial plaque, floss the teeth and gum line at least once a day to prevent this. After flossing, using an antiseptic mouthwash is a great idea to remove any lingering bacteria and wipe away any loose food particles. Despite the fact that flossing is the only practical technique to remove the bacterial film, resist the impulse to use mouthwash to remove food particles from the gum line.
- Avoid chewing on hard objects
The dental sealants can be harmed by biting or chewing on hard foods, sweets, or by using the teeth as a tool. If the sealant cracks, the teeth will be susceptible to decay unless the dentist near you applies the sealant substance again. Additionally, anything that harms the sealant has a chance of harming the tooth as well.
Get in Touch with Our Dental Team
Contact our staff at Danvers Family Dental to set up an appointment to learn more about caring for your smile. Protecting your smile will help you lead a healthier, pain-free life now and down the road.
Call or email our clinic today.