Dental Sealants for Adults: Everything You Should Know

Dental Sealants for Adults: Everything You Should Know

February 1, 2023

Did you know that the enamel (shiny outer surface of the tooth) is the hardest tissue in the body? It is 98% mineral, meaning the enamel is much stronger than your bones! That’s why your teeth can last for an entire lifetime, especially if you have proper oral habits.

However, cleaning your teeth can be challenging, especially if the chewing surfaces of your back teeth (molars and premolars) have deep grooves and pits. If your toothbrush cannot clean these pits, getting cavities will be inevitable. Thank heavens for dental sealants in Detroit, MI.

Dental sealants are crucial when considering protecting your back teeth from decay. Even though flossing and brushing are fantastic dental practices, you will boost your oral health if you get tooth sealants for your back teeth.

When Does Our Dentist Recommend Dental Sealants?

In a nutshell, a dental sealant is a form of preventive dental care where our dentist in Detroit, MI, applies liquid resin to the chewing surface of the back teeth. The dental sealant’s main aim is to prevent food debris and bacteria from hiding in the grooves and pits on the back teeth. In the end, this prevents tooth decay.

The best time to seal teeth is immediately after the premolars and molars erupt and before decay offers. The first permanent teeth will erupt around six years; the next will be around 11 to 13 years. Our dentist may recommend that if you have a kid, bring them to get dental sealants around these cavity-prone years.

But as an adult, the best time to get sealants would be before you develop tooth decay.

Who Can Get Sealants?

Anyone can reap the benefits of this excellent preventive dental treatment. It would help if you only discussed with our dentist whether this is the best possible treatment. The earlier you get dental sealants, the better for your teeth.

If our dentist examines your teeth and lifestyle and concludes that you are at risk of developing caries, then you will be scheduled to get dental sealants. If you have dip pits and fissures and it isn’t easy to clean the back teeth, then our dentist will recommend that you get tooth sealants.

Dental sealants near you can also help reduce tooth sensitivity if you have oversensitive teeth.

How Are Dental Sealants Applied to Teeth?

Applying tooth sealants is a quick, stress- and pain-free procedure. Our dentist will take a few moments to prep and apply the sealants, which also cure in a few minutes. Here’s how sealants are applied to teeth:

  • Our dentist will commence by cleaning your teeth to remove food debris and plaque
  • The next thing will be to place an absorbent material around the teeth to keep them dry
  • Our dentist will roughen your teeth using an acid solution
  • Then your teeth will be dried and rinsed
  • Our dentist will then apply the tooth sealant to the enamel and allow it to harden under a special curing light

It is best to place the sealants on teeth that have no cavities. However, if it’s during the early stages, our dentist may consider placing dental sealants on them to prevent further deterioration. Clear sealants are placed on the teeth to allow our dentist to monitor the teeth and see if the sealant is working properly.

Benefits of Dental Sealants?

You could be wondering if any dental sealants come with any benefits. Wonder no more! The benefits of dental sealants are:

  • Prevents Future Dental Health Issues

Tooth decay will affect your teeth’s structural integrity. Therefore, the functionality and appearance of your teeth will deteriorate. You could also develop a tooth infection and even lose a tooth. But when you have sealants, you will protect your teeth from the complications that come with cavities.

  • Saves Time and Money in the Long-Term

Sealants are a preventive measure against dental caries. Therefore, you have protected your teeth from future damage. In this case, you have saved money and time that you will need to spend when rectifying dental issues.

Are There Any Side Effects?

As far as we know, dental sealants don’t have any side effects. They are safe to use; that’s why even kids can use them. There are those rare circumstances in which people have allergies, but other than that; they are safe.

If you want to protect your pearly whites from cavities, contact me at My Detroit Dentist to schedule an appointment.

Call Now Book Now
Font Resize
Contrast
Click to listen highlighted text!