Have you ever wondered why food sometimes gets stuck on your teeth even if you don’t have cavities? This often happens because of the deep grooves in the premolars and molars. These grooves can trap food particles despite good oral hygiene practices.
This is where dental sealants come to the rescue by providing an effective solution. As the name suggests, sealants are liquid coating materials that seal these deep grooves and pits on the tooth surfaces. By covering these vulnerable areas, dental sealants prevent food particles from getting trapped, reducing tooth decay risk.
In this blog, you will explore the significance of dental sealants in maintaining dental health and explain how they work to protect your teeth from decay.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are dense, flowable materials designed to fill deep grooves and pits, typically found on the surfaces of molars and premolars. These grooves can trap food debris even after regular brushing and flossing, making the tooth more susceptible to decay. Sealants help by creating a barrier that prevents food particles from accumulating in these hard-to-clean areas, thereby reducing the risk of tooth decay.
These coatings are made from a special dental resin that bonds to the grooves and pits of the teeth, creating a smooth, easy-to-clean surface.
What Are the Different Types of Sealants?
Sealants on teeth block the grooves and fissures, thereby preventing tooth decay. The effectiveness of a dental sealant depends on its properties, such as strength, liquidity, cost, and caries protection.
Here are the different types of dental sealants:
- Resin-Based Sealants: These are made of nanohybrid composite. They are durable and have strong adhesion to the tooth surface. These sealants are usually tooth-colored to match the natural teeth, making them aesthetically pleasing. Resin-based sealants are the most commonly used type of dental sealant, but they require strict moisture control during application.
- Glass Ionomer Sealants: These sealants are made of glass and acrylic. They have the unique ability to release fluoride, a substance known for its ability to hinder the growth of bacteria and control tooth decay (cariostatic effect). They are commonly used in children and patients with special needs, where managing saliva and moisture during application can be challenging.
- Composer Sealants: These sealants, crafted from a blend of resin-based composite materials and glass ionomer, offer the best of both worlds. They provide strong adhesion, release fluoride, and are more durable than traditional resin-based sealants, instilling confidence in their effectiveness.
- Self-Adhesive Sealants: Self-adhesive sealants simplify the application process. They do not require a bonding medium to stick to the tooth surface. These sealants are directly placed over the tooth enamel, making the procedure quicker and less complex.
- Colored Sealants: These sealants come in different colors. Their purpose is to ensure complete coverage during the application. The color also enables monitoring the chipping of sealant over time. This can be used in children, where the wear and tear of sealants is more pronounced.
Dental Sealants Placement: Step-by-Step Approach
Applying dental sealants is a straightforward process and remains consistent whether the dental sealants are for adults or children. Here are the detailed steps for placing dental sealants:
- Removing Debris: The tooth surface is meticulously cleaned to remove any food debris or plaque, ensuring no detail is missed. This step may also involve removing very minute tooth decay. The cleaning process can be performed manually using dental instruments or with a very low-intensity dental handpiece drill.
- Tooth Preparation:
- Isolation of the Tooth: The tooth is thoroughly dried and isolated using cotton pellets to control moisture. This ensures a dry working environment required for the subsequent steps.
- Etching: A mild acidic gel is applied to the tooth surface, creating micro tags or pores that roughen the surface. This roughening is essential for the mechanical bonding of the sealant to the tooth surface. After etching, the gel is rinsed off, and the tooth is dried and isolated again.
- Application of Bonding Agent: A bonding agent is applied to the surface once the tooth is prepared. This bonding agent is dried using UV light or a blowing pump, preparing the tooth for the sealant.
- Applying the Sealant: The sealant is carefully placed on the tooth surface and adhered to the grooves. It is then set using a curing light, which initiates a chemical reaction in resin-based or compomer sealants, eventually hardening the sealant.
- Checking for High Points: After the sealant has been set and adhered well, the patient is asked to bite down to check for any high points that might irritate the opposing tooth. Any high points are carefully reduced, and the bite is checked until adequately adjusted. This ensures the deep grooves are effectively sealed, preventing potential tooth decay.
Conclusion
Dental sealants safeguard teeth against decay, potentially avoiding the need for costly dental implants. The timely application of sealants on deep grooves, particularly in children susceptible to tooth decay, can contribute to long-term protection against cavities and promote overall dental wellness.
By incorporating dental sealants into regular dental care, individuals can ensure long-term protection against cavities and maintain a healthy smile.
Protect Your Teeth with Dental Sealants
Ensure your smile stays healthy and cavity-free with dental sealants from our expert team at Hopkins Family Dentistry. We provide top-quality care to prevent tooth decay and maintain your oral health.
Contact us today or call (952) 935-2121 to schedule your appointment and discuss the benefits of dental sealants.
Keep your smile bright and protected!
Address: 1919 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343
