Generally, sealants are applied by dentists before a tooth has developed cavities. Unfortunately, adult teeth are likely not to remain pristine as they age. The situation is specifically actual of the chewing surfaces of the molars. Therefore, applying a sealant doesn’t make much sense after filling a tooth.

Dental sealants are a practical preventive measure against cavities and are beneficial when applied to unrestored molars. Sealants help seal the pits and fissures of the molars where food particles remain trapped, providing mouth bacteria a convenient place to feast on and deposit cavity-causing bacteria. Applying dental sealants over the molars smoothens the chewing surface, making them easier to clean and preventing the entrapment of food particles.

What Happens When You Have Sealants over a Cavity?

Dental sealants are clear and thin coatings of plastic sealing the narrow grooves on the chewing surfaces of the molars. Dentists monitor the molars to ensure the sealant functions appropriately and prevent the decay from spreading. Unfortunately, in the sealant fails to perform as expected, it causes an increase in pollution to help worsen the cavity.

Dental sealants are best used over tiny cavities to prevent the significant spread of decay. However, treating the existing decay or attempting to reverse it depending on the damage’s extent is required before placing the sealant.

When Do You Put Sealants on?

Ideally, the Park Ridge Dentist recommends dental sealants on children’s molars when they emerge at ages 6 and 12. Adults without restorations and baby teeth are also sealed in a comfortable and painless procedure requiring a few minutes but protecting against cavities for several years.

Dental sealants function as a protective barrier against tooth decay, preventing 80 percent of cavities for the initial two years after an application. They continue the protection against 50 percent of holes for another four years while remaining on the teeth for approximately a decade. However, they need monitoring during regular appointments for exams and cleanings because they are susceptible to chipping and breaking.

Do Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities in Reality?

When getting a sealant for teeth, you might think you have a protective barrier against cavities and can continue enjoying yourself as you wish by neglecting dental hygiene and having a diet of sugary and starchy foods. However, you must realize sealants are merely a preventive treatment and do not protect against all cavities. Therefore you remain susceptible to tooth decay even after an application because there are limitations on the protection.

Research on dental sealants on children’s molars reveals they are three times less likely to develop cavities than children without sealants on their teeth. Therefore if you maintain excellent dental hygiene, refrain from having sugary and starchy foods, and get frequent dental exams and cleanings, the sealants help prevent cavities as best possible. However, you must remember the limitations that you receive protection against a certain percentage and not 100 percent cavities from dental sealants.

Are Sealants Suitable for Placement over Pre-Existing Tooth Decay?

Applying sealants over pre-existing tooth decay is possible if ozone gas is used on and around the tooth to ensure the reduction of bacteria or elimination before the sealing. Infections from minor cavities require cleaning by drilling the area before placing the sealant.

Safety of Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are safe and effective as they have remained for over four decades and help prevent cavities. Although they aren’t considered essential, they help prevent cavities in children’s molars that require expensive dental treatments, such as fillings, root canals, or extractions. Therefore getting your children dental sealants soon after their molars develop is better than spending time with dentists caring for children’s mouths.

Which Is Better, Filling or Sealing Teeth?

A cavity causes permanent damage in the tooth that doesn’t have any mechanism to heal itself. Therefore, filling the hole is a requirement you cannot ignore because the decay spreads to cause additional complications in the mouth. In addition, dental fillings cost more than dental sealants while leaving the tooth susceptible to further damage.

Dental sealants cost merely $ 30-$ 60 per tooth and provide a comfortable and painless technique to prevent most cavities in the teeth. Therefore you find it beneficial to seal the teeth instead of considering filling them after cavities develop.

Complete Health Dentistry of Park Ridge provides dental sealants for children and adults if needed in a comfortable and painless procedure. If you think you might profit from this procedure, kindly do not hesitate to contact our practice for a preventive barrier over your teeth.