How Long Does Dental Sealants Last?

Dental sealants are a great way to add a protective barrier between the surfaces of the teeth, especially the molars, and the harmful decay-causing bacteria. The biting surfaces of molars have tiny grooves where bacteria accumulate, leading to distraction or decay. Sealants help heal and restore your molars. They also help protect your smile.

What are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealant is thin plastic material painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent tooth decay. The sealant bonds into your teeth’s grooves and depressions, forming a protective shield over the enamel of your teeth.

Although you can remove food particles through brushing and flossing from the smooth surfaces of your teeth, you cannot always get into all the crannies and nooks of the molars to remove the plaque and food. Sealants protect vulnerable areas from decay by sealing out food and plaque.

Who Should Get Sealants for Teeth?

Teenagers and children are candidates for sealants because they are more prone to developing tooth decay in the grooves of the back teeth like molars. However, adults can benefit from sealants, especially those without decay or fillings in their molars.

Typically, children are supposed to get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as the molars come in. The sealants help protect the teeth during the cavity-prone years by doing this.

Dental sealants placed by our emergency dentist in Kansas City are also appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child’s teeth have deep depressions and grooves. Since baby teeth play an important in holding the proper spacing for permanent teeth, it’s essential to keep them healthy to avoid losing them too early.

How are Sealants Applied?

Our dentist in Kansas City applies sealant painlessly and straightforwardly. It takes a few minutes to apply the sealant and seal each tooth. The application steps include:

• First, your dentist thoroughly cleans the teeth to be sealed
• They then dry each tooth, and a cotton or other absorbent material is put around the tooth to keep it dry
• The dentist puts an acid solution on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them up. This helps the dental sealant bond to the teeth
• The teeth are rinsed and dried
• Sealant is then painted onto your teeth’s enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. An ultraviolet or special curing light is used to set the sealant quickly

How Long Do Sealants Last?

Dental sealants are long-lasting. Taking good care of your teeth can last up to 10 years. Also, you should go for regular check-ups with a dentist near you to ensure the sealants are still intact. Also, dental sealants are easy to replace.

Are Dental Sealants Worth It?

Dental sealants from Smile Palace are worth it because they offer several benefits that include:

They Reduce Deep Grooves

Back teeth like molars have deeper depressions and grooves on the surfaces, making them more challenging to clean. No matter how frequently you brush, your toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the grooves and depressions on your teeth’s chewing surfaces.

Plaque and food particles accumulate in the unreachable spots. This makes bacteria and food debris build up in those deep areas. So, these deep grooves will lead to your tooth experiencing dental decay. Visit our dental clinic in Kansas City to get dental sealants that help prevent decay from developing in vulnerable areas.

Sealants Protect Against Cavities

Dental sealants near you help cover the molar’s top with a tooth-colored plastic protecting the teeth from cavities. The extra layer of protection makes it difficult for bacteria to remain on your tooth’s surface.

The Process is Painless and Quick

The procedure of applying sealants is a simple and painless one. First, our dentist in 64114 cleans and prepares your teeth for the sealant material. They prepare the teeth by using a mild solution similar in strength to vinegar or lemon juice. This helps roughen the surface of your teeth to help the sealant material bond with the teeth properly.

Once the dentist is done preparing your teeth, they apply an acrylic sealant to the teeth. The sealant material flows to the depressions and grooves on your teeth and fills them in. Then, your teeth will be sealed and protected from bacteria collecting in the grooves and pits.