How Often Should You Get Dental Sealants?
Are you concerned that you are at a high risk of getting dental cavities? Dental cavities are among the most common oral problems in dentistry. They affect children and adults alike. While various measures work together to reduce the risk of tooth cavities, you must prioritize preventive oral care through dental sealants.
What Are Sealants For Teeth
They are special types of tooth fillings that dentists in Chaska use for preventive dentistry. Unlike traditional dental fillings, dental sealants in Chaska should be used before you develop cavities or experience tooth decay.
What Are the Different Types of Dental Sealants?
In dentistry, you can choose between two major types of dental sealants:
- Glass ionomers – are tooth sealants featuring glass-like acrylic. They are ideal sealants because they have a double-action mechanism for fighting dental cavities. Aside from sealing a tooth to bar bacteria from attacking the enamel, glass ionomers contain fluoride. Over the period you will have the sealant material, it will release fluoride on your tooth. Fluoride is a natural mineral that strengthens teeth’ enamels by increasing their resistance to bacteria that cause dental cavities.
- Composite fillings – composites are tooth-colored, making them ideal to seal your teeth without compromising aesthetics. These fillings are incredible because dentists can use them for both preventive and restorative treatment. Ideally, a dentist can use composite fillings to prevent cavities from forming or to combat existing dental caries.
How Do Dental Sealants Work?
The primary role of dental sealants is to protect teeth from bacteria that cause dental cavities and tooth decay. They work by protecting the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, filling in the deep fissures. Dentists agree that if you have deep fissures on your teeth, they are more likely to trap food residue and bacteria, gradually leading to dental decay. Therefore, dental sealants near you counter the decay process by filling the cusps to reduce the risk of plaque forming within the fissures of teeth.
Can You Get Dental Sealants on All Your Teeth?
Although dental sealants are effective for protecting teeth against cavities, they are not ideal for all teeth. At Town Dental Chaska, we administer sealants for back teeth only. The reason is that the front teeth do not have deep chewing surfaces that need protection.
How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?
Dental experts agree that immediately you get dental sealants, the teeth protection coating protect your teeth against 80% of cavities for the first two years. After that, the degree of protection goes down to about 50% for four to five years. Therefore, dental sealants are not all you need to prevent dental cavities. Besides, tooth sealants only protect the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. Practice other dental care measures that will protect the rest of your teeth to prevent dental cavities.
How Can You Get the Most Out of Your Dental Sealants?
The foundation dental care tips your dentist has always emphasized are the ones that can help you maximize your dental sealants’ effectiveness. They include:
- Brush your teeth at least twice daily – dental sealants should make it easier to keep your back teeth because they reduce the depth of the fissures on the chewing surfaces.
- Floss daily – flossing targets food particles and debris between teeth. If you neglect to floss, you will eventually deal with plaque between teeth that may lead to oral cavities.
- Watch what you eat – dental sealants are not tamper-proof. Eating hard foods can damage the tooth sealants, allowing bacteria to penetrate the tooth layers.
- Replace your sealants after a while – typical dental sealants last between five and ten years. Do not hesitate to visit your dentist for retreatment to replace your sealant material and increase its effectiveness.
How Often Should You Replace Your Dental Sealants?
The older the sealant material is, the less effective it is to fight against dental cavities. Therefore, you must check in with your dentist to determine the ideal time to replace your sealants. Do not wait until your tooth sealants are completely worn down for you to replace them. Usually, dentists evaluate the sealant material to check the degree of deterioration before replacement. Still, you can replace your tooth sealants if they crack or cause other problems like tooth sensitivity.