Sealants, also referred to as dental sealants, include a plastic product that is placed on the chewing (occlusal) surface area of the permanent back teeth – the molars and premolars – to assist protect them from bacteria and acids that add to dental caries.
Pit and Fissure Sealants: When You Need Them?
Thorough brushing and flossing assists remove food particles and plaque from the smooth surface areas of teeth, but tooth brushes can’t reach all the method into the depressions and grooves to draw out all food and plaque. While fluoride helps avoid decay and helps safeguard all the surfaces of the teeth, dental sealants add extra security for the grooved and pitted areas.
You have actually heard the expression, “avoidance is better than cure,” and it has never ever been more true than in dental health. Avoiding damage to your teeth through sound oral care beats trying to fix problems after they emerge. Pit and fissure sealants, for example, are one of several methods for fending off the decay that causes cavities.
Using glass ionomer or a similar bonding agent, these sealants can work especially well in teens and kids, as newly or partially erupted teeth are frequently too moist to get traditional adhesives, according to a report from The Journal of the American Dental Association.
Why Your Child Might Need Sealants
Even though pits and fissues do happen naturally, they can deepen gradually, leading to cavities, so a child whose teeth reveal signs of pits and fissures might be a prime candidate for dental sealants. Pits are small hollows that take place on the biting surfaces of permanent teeth, as explained by the International Dental Health Foundation, whereas fissures are grooves in the outside of the tooth’s surface area. In both cases, these areas can quickly fill with bacteria, which might be challenging to remove with regular oral health.
As this bacteria grows, it engages with the starches in the food you eat, turning them into acids that can eat away at tooth enamel. If this process causes enough decay, it ultimately spreads to the inner pulp of the tooth. This can lead to extremely painful and unpleasant damage, which can cause long-lasting dental issues.
How Do Sealants Work?
Dental sealants work to coat and seal the grooves and hollows, preventing even the most the hazardous bacteria from developing on the tooth. The size and depth of the hollows and grooves in your child’s teeth will identify whether she or he can benefit from the application of a sealant. These sealants are normally used on the molars and premolars at the back of the mouth, as these are the teeth that most frequently develop surface irregularities.
Checking Your Child
A thorough dental assessment of your child’s new permanent teeth will figure out whether or not they have pits and fissures and an increased risk exists for developing cavities. Not all teeth that bring this condition require sealing, which is why a pediatric dental practitioner can carry out an analysis of these new teeth to see if it is required. Having actually recognized if the pits and fissures are deep adequate to require the application of a sealant, the dentist will provide you this suggestion. Ultimately, however, it depends on the parent. You’ll understand it’s urgent if you can see grooves and hollows on the surface of the back teeth.
Keeping Excellent Oral Health
Until your child receives this important assessment, make sure he or she keeps good oral health. A routine that includes daily brushing, toothpaste and persistent flossing will assist to secure the teeth from an accumulation of bacteria. Remember that fluoridated drinking water– offered in the majority of states– has considerably lowered the opportunities of brand-new teeth establishing bacterial issues. And after sealants are used, it’s just as crucial to keep oral health to avoid other problems from developing, both in and out of the mouth.
A Cost-efficient Alternative
Pit and fissure sealants are an underused option for the defense of molar teeth, especially in lower-income populations. Costs vary according to the products used. The price of sealant application is especially affordable in high-risk populations, inning accordance with the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future.
If your child has actually recently invited brand-new irreversible molar teeth, it’s a good time to obtain them taken a look at to identify whether they would take advantage of dental sealants.
