A dental sealant is a protective coating placed on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay. It is typically done on primary (baby) teeth for someone susceptible to caries, but can be beneficial for permanent teeth as well. They can last years if taken well and prevent the need for spending time and money on a filling for that tooth. Consult with your dentist to see if your child would benefit from having a sealant, or if you’re interested for yourself.
How does a sealant work:
Sealants are typically resin materials that are placed on the grooves of the back teeth. The grooves on the biting surface of your teeth are so tiny that the bristles of your toothbrush are unable to reach them. This can cause bacteria and food to get trapped in the grooves (especially if they’re deep) and cause a cavity. When a sealant is placed, it covers these grooves and shields your teeth from harmful bacteria, greatly reducing your risk for decay. Some sealants also release fluoride after their hardened, strengthening the Enamel and potentially reversing incipient lesions (the stage before a cavity).
Those who would benefit from a sealant:
- Deep pit and fissures: Deep grooves makes you more susceptible to trapping bacteria
- People with Xerostomia: Higher risk for developing cavities
- Clients undergoing orthodontics: higher risk for developing cavities
- High caries risk clients
- Any age: Children and teenagers are key candidates for sealants, but anyone who’s at high risk for caries and has a tooth that a sealant can be placed on can receive one.
In order for a sealant to be placed on a tooth, there should be no cavity present, or previous filling. Your dentist can examine your teeth and see if there’s a tooth a sealant can be placed on.
If you have any questions or want more information, we invite you to call our team at The Smile Team in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, today at 416-546-5599. We look forward to helping you in any way we can, and we thank you for the opportunity!
We are open Mondays to Saturdays and speak GUJARATI, HINDI, URDU, TAGALOG and ARABIC. You can reach our family dental care office in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, by calling 416-546-5599 (https://smileteamtoronto.ca/contact/)