 SEALANTS
The first step in maintaining a
healthy mouth is preventing tooth decay, and sealants can offer
major protection against cavities. Your teeth are covered with a
sticky film of bacteria, called plaque. When you don't clean your
teeth after eating, plaque bacteria use sugar and starch in food as
a source of energy. The bacteria convert the sugar or starch into
harmful acids that attack tooth enamel for as long as twenty minutes
or more. Repeated attacks may cause the enamel to break down,
resulting in cavities.
How
does a sealant help prevent decay?
A sealant is a plastic material
that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth —
premolars and molars. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions
and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back
teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque
and acids.
Thorough brushing and flossing help
remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth. But
toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions
and grooves to extract food and plaque. Sealants protect these
vulnerable areas by "sealing out" plaque and food.
Is
sealant application a complicated procedure?
Sealants are easy for your dentist
to apply, and it takes only a few minutes to seal each tooth. The
teeth that will be sealed are cleaned. Then the chewing surfaces are
roughened with an acid solution to help the sealant adhere to the
tooth. The sealant is then 'painted' onto the tooth enamel, where it
bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing
light is used to help the sealant harden.
As long as the sealant remains
intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Sealants
hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last
several years before a reapplication is needed. During your regular
dental visits, your dentist will check the condition of the sealants
and reapply them when necessary.
Sealants are just for kids, right?
The likelihood of developing pit
and fissure decay begins early in life, so children and teenagers
are obvious candidates. But adults can benefit from sealants as
well.
Key ingredients in preventing tooth
decay and maintaining a healthy mouth are twice-daily brushing with
an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste; cleaning between the teeth
daily with floss or interdental cleaners; eating a balanced diet and
limiting snacks; and visiting your dentist regularly. Ask your
dentist about whether sealants can put extra power behind your
prevention program. |
