Sealants and Their Benefits

To take care of our teeth, we brush day and night to get rid of the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Regularly scheduled visits with the dentist and additional procedures such as fluoride treatments also lead to healthier teeth. Besides these treatments and daily habits, another often-overlooked treatment for your teeth involves the use of sealants. Let's take a closer look at sealants and their benefits.



What are Dental Sealants?

If you take a closer look at your teeth, you will notice that there are small grooves and fissures present especially on the molars and premolars. These type of teeth located in the back of your mouth enable you to properly chew and crush food.



Even if you brush with flouride-enhanced toothpaste, acids present in the foods you eat and secreted by bacteria will still cause tooth decay.

In addition to regular cleanings and enhanced fluoride treatments, sealants are a great way to protect your teeth. More specifically, sealants are a thin layer of plastic placed on your teeth.

They are much more effective for dental health because they act to cover the natural fissures adding another layer of protection against tooth decay.



Benefits of Dental Sealants

Sealants are a great way to protect your teeth from decay and provide several benefits. One main benefit of adding a sealant is to help protect grooved areas of your back teeth. The pitted areas are often hard to reach even with brushing and flossing. Adding a sealant helps protect these hard to reach areas.



Besides adding a layer of protection, sealants are also a painless and easy procedure to complete. The dentist simply has to prepare a seal and complete the procedure that requires just a few minutes. This is really great news for both kids and adults who don't look forward to their next dental appointment.



Since sealants protect the chewing areas of your molars and premolars from decay, they have been known to reduce cavities in children and adults. Studies done by the American Association of Pediatric dentistry found that cavities were reduced by nearly 90% within the first year and almost 60% over a four year period.



Applying a sealant can also help save money and time. If you don't take care of your teeth, this can lead to costly procedures including oral surgeries that are also time-consuming. Sealants provide you with a preventive step that will save you a lot of time and money over several years. They also last a long time – up to 10 years and are relatively cheap, ranging from $30 to $50 per tooth.



Besides making your teeth more healthier, sealants can also make you healthy overall. Dental health is not just about making your teeth look good. Studies show that poor dental health could lead to many other ailments including heart disease, diabetes, and even dementia. Sealants are not just a way to make your mouth healthy, they will also help your body too!



Try it Today

Don't hesitate to make an investment in your dental health today with sealants. Our dentists will be happy to complete this painless and simple procedure to protect your teeth.