When it comes to dental health, it is always best to focus on preventive care instead of waiting for bigger problems to happen. Taking care of your teeth early in life will give you the opportunity to maintain your natural teeth throughout your life. There are certain preventive treatments that can be used to boost your dental health and protect your teeth such as dental sealants.
Tooth decay is a common problem in both children and adults, and this decay is caused by the bacteria that is present within the mouth. Chewing surfaces are especially susceptible to tooth decay, because it is easy for food particles or bacteria to become trapped in the grooves of the teeth without a dental seal. When the food or bacteria gets trapped, then it might cause the tooth to decay resulting in a need for a cavity removal and a tooth filling. One preventive treatment option is to apply dental sealants.
Since it is difficult to reach the pits and fissures that are located in the chewing surfaces of the teeth, the debris and bacteria can’t always be easily removed by brushing and flossing. If a person has teeth that are susceptible to these problems, then a teeth sealant might be used to prevent the debris from getting caught in the spaces. As a result, it is possible to prevent decay and protect the tooth.
Dental sealants are applied by putting a plastic coating on the surface of the tooth. Typically, this treatment is done on baby teeth soon after they grow in. The treatment can be repeated during the child’s life, and it is necessary to reapply teeth sealants since they naturally wear off over time.
To perform a dental seal treatment, Dr. Dhaval Patel will first clean the teeth thoroughly and dry the surface of the teeth. Then, a solution will be applied to the teeth which helps the dental sealants bond to the teeth. Next, each tooth is painted with a sealant coating that is clear in color so that it blends in with the natural appearance of the teeth.
The final step of the sealant treatment is to use a curing light to help the sealant harden onto the teeth. It is possible for these dental sealants to last for many years, although it is important to maintain regular dental checkups to assess dental health and see if re-application of a dental seal is needed.
For more information about dental sealants, contact us at Simply Teeth. We will schedule an appointment and help you decide if sealants are right for your child.