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Surprising Facts on What Dental Sealants Can Do!
Dental sealants are thin layers of plastic applied to the teeth, in
particular to the back teeth as they are more prone to tooth decay
because of their location. The sealants prevent bacteria from settling
on the tooth, causing tooth decay.
Tooth sealant and BPA (Bisophenol A, a chemical potentially mimicking
human oestrogen) have been in the news as the possible toxicity
of dental sealants was questioned. No etch dental sealants (the
applying of dental sealants without a chemical treatment to make
the tooth surface rougher before applying the plastic film), make
the application of sealants a care free and safe procedure for teeth.
When Should Dental Sealants Be Placed on Teeth?
Sealants are usually applied to children’s’ teeth. There
is no specific age for this procedure, but children should be old
enough to understand the procedure and must be able to cooperate.
The tooth can only be treated if it has fully erupted through the
gums. Adults can also have sealants applied but this is less common
as there is less need to do it. Adults are more capable of maintaining
a good standard of dental hygiene.
Sealants are applied to teeth with naturally deep grooves and edges,
to protect the tooth and teeth with these shapes are more likely to
collect bacteria and food traces, causing tooth decay.
On Which Teeth are Sealants Placed?
The back teeth are usually treated, especially the molars. These teeth
have more pits and grooves for plaque to build up in. The possibility
and need for this treatment varies per person, as the shape of teeth
differs so much per teeth. Pit and fissure sealants are the most common
types of sealants, lining the teeth with deeper ‘pits’
to ensure that the tooth will not develop cavities as a result of
settling bacteria.
Procedure for Placing Dental Sealants
The tooth that is to be treated will be cleaned and rinsed properly
before any treatment starts. To ensure dental sealant safety, the
tooth has to be clean or the plastic film that is to be painted on
will not hold. The tooth will be dried thoroughly after washing it.
A special solution is applied to the tooth, to make the tooth surface
rough, after which the liquid plastic, making up the sealant, is applied
to the tooth. After a short hardening time, the sealant is fixed.
With no etch dental sealants, the treatment with a solution to ‘etch’
the tooth (ie make the tooth surface rough) is left out. Due to a
special drying technique of the tooth after cleaning it, the sealant
can be applied directly after the cleaning procedure.
Do Dental Sealants Last for a Long Period?
Dental sealants can last for up to ten years and will be checked at
regular intervals. Some times sealants will need extra adding of plastic,
if the layer on the tooth has worn down. If a sealant is chipped or
comes off the sealant can easily be replaced or repaired by adding
more plastic to the sealant or bare tooth. People or children who
have sealants fixed to their teeth should try not to eat hard or sticky
candy, and avoid chewing on ice cubes.
