When you’re trying to prevent tooth decay, you need all the help you can get, and dental sealants are a powerful new defense for patients of all ages. While a popular option in pediatric practices as an inexpensive way of helping to protect teeth in patients who may not be brushing properly, adults can also benefit from them. Sealants are made of a liquid plastic that gets into the nooks and crannies of your teeth and helps to prevent the growth of bacteria, especially in the molars. Even adults can have trouble properly caring for their rearmost teeth due to the difficulty involved in reaching them.
Sealants Are A Long-Lasting Solution
Sealants are comprised of a resilient material that can cling to the teeth and protect them for up to a decade. This is all possible thanks to the way that the material hardens into place, keeping decay from reaching the grooves and crevices of the teeth. The process of receiving sealants starts with a brief acid bath for the teeth to be sealed. This treatment creates a rough surface on the teeth for the sealants to adhere to. A curing light is commonly used to speed the hardening of the material.
Sealants Cannot Be Removed By Saliva
Saliva is almost entirely water, making it ill-suited to damaging the material that’s used for your sealants. The cells, mucus, enzymes, and electrolytes that makeup only 1% of your saliva simply aren’t up to the task of breaking down this resilient material. The sealants on your teeth are strong enough to stand up to the wear and tear eating and speaking will put on them.
Sealants Can Save You Money
The initial cost of sealants is quite low and will pay for itself by protecting your teeth from costly decay. Children are notoriously poor at dental hygiene, even under guidance. This means they tend to develop cavities that can be expensive to care for. The cost of repairing these teeth is often up to four times the cost of the sealants themselves, resulting in long-term savings for everyone.
Getting Sealants is Pain-Free
There’s no anesthesia needed when receiving sealants as the process is entirely painless. There are no special tools required, making it a perfect option for children who are developing grooves in their molars or for teenagers and young adults looking for a way to prevent cavities from forming.
Sealants Can Prevent The Spread of Decay
Not only are sealants great for preventing decay, if decay already exists, but it can also be an effective means of stopping it in its tracks. Over 50 years of developments and improvements have made them a popular option for patients of all ages, and they only get better with time.
If you’re considering getting dental sealants, it’s important that you act as soon as possible. These sealants are immediately effective and show ongoing results, but they can’t work until you get them! Call Premier Dental of South Orange County today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Duc Pham in Aliso Viejo, CA!