Everyone has heard the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. In the world of dentistry, this means regular check ups, cleanings and dental xrays. We can now add one other preventative professional dental procedure to that list: dental sealants. For those who aren’t aware, dental sealants are are thin, see-through coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, keeping out germs and food.
They are painless to apply and are complete in just a few minutes. They act as an invisible coating to protect against cavities.
Having sealants placed on teeth before they decay will save time, money and dental pain by avoiding fillings, crowns, or root canals used to fix decayed teeth.
Conventionally, sealants were placed on the teeth of children when their permanent molars erupted. Nowadays, we routinely place sealants on the undecayed teeth of adults as additional protection from any decay in the future. Sealants are a good preventative procedure to place on any permanent tooth that has never been filled.
These are the main reasons for having sealants placed.
Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as the teeth come in -- before decay attacks the teeth. This is usually between the age of 6 years and 12 years of age.
All other permanent teeth with deep or stained pits and grooves.
Teenagers and young adults who are prone to decay may also need sealants.
Baby teeth that have deep pits and grooves.
Although it may seem counterintuitive to place sealants on healthy teeth, it really is an excellent way to prevent cavities.
My own children had sealants placed at a young age, and now as young adults, neither has developed any cavities. I definitely think that this was certainly worth the endeavor. I only wish that my own teeth had been so lucky.
On a holistic note, it is important to keep in mind that not all sealants are the same. It is always a good idea to make sure that the sealant material that your dentist uses is BPA free and fluoride free. Always ask before proceeding.
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