The Dental Health Benefits of Sealants and When They Should Be Removed

What Are Dental Sealants?

They are unique dental fillings that protect teeth from oral cavities and dental decay. Unlike traditional dental fillings, dental sealants in Calgary, AB, work proactively. They benefit your teeth before you develop any dental cavities.

Who Needs Dental Sealants?

Typically, Calgary dentists in SW use dental sealants in pediatric dentistry. They help protect children’s teeth from dental cavities before they develop. Usually, children are more prone to cavities between ages 6 and 14. It is the age when permanent adult teeth erupt, particularly molars.

However, children are not the only patients that can benefit from dental sealants. Adults can get dental sealants to prevent dental cavities too. However, it is not a popular reason for adults to get tooth sealants. Instead, adults get sealants for teeth to overcome hypersensitivity.

The Benefits of Dental Sealants

Teeth sealants pros can help you be firmer in your decision to visit our dentist at Image Dental for preventive care. Some of the benefits of dental sealants are:

1. Improved oral hygiene – you may have a hard time properly cleaning your back teeth when they have deep pits and fissures. Dental sealants boost your oral hygiene by leveling the chewing surfaces of your back teeth.
2. Building strong teeth – some dental sealants contain fluoride, released on teeth’ enamel gradually. Fluoride is a natural mineral that enriches teeth to strengthen them and increase their resistance to bacteria that cause dental cavities.
3. Preserving natural teeth – dental sealants can potentially eliminate the need for invasive dental protocols in the future. The most common reason why patients need tooth extraction is to treat decayed teeth. Dental sealants protect your teeth from decay, sparing you the need for tooth extractions. You may also be lucky to avoid other restorative treatments like root canal therapy or dental fillings.
4. Dental sealants are quick, easy, and painless treatment protocols for preventive dental care. If you know anything about health, you understand that preventive care is better than seeking treatment after the illness. Dental sealants are a quick preventive measure to care for your teeth.
5. Aesthetic benefit – dental sealants will not be conspicuous when you smile. Composite sealants are tooth-colored, matching your natural teeth’ color. Glass ionomers, on the other hand, feature acrylic, a glass-like material that blends well with natural teeth.

How Long Do Sealants Last?

Dental sealants are not for a lifetime. Usually, they last between 5 and 10 years, depending on the type of sealant material. During this period, your oral care measure can maximize your sealants.

When Should Sealants Be Removed?

Dentists recommend replacing dental sealants after about 5 years. The reason is that the older your dental sealants are, the less effective they are in protecting your teeth. Usually, dental sealants protect your teeth from up to 80% of dental cavities during the first two years. The percentage lowers to about 50% for the remaining 4 or 5 years. Therefore, replacing your dental sealants works to your advantage if you must avoid dental decay.

Still, your dentist may recommend removing your dental sealants prematurely if you have an underlying infection. Sometimes a cavity can develop underneath your dental sealants if you are not keen to care for your mouth properly after your treatment. If it happens, your dentist must remove the tooth sealant to treat the underlying infection.

Will Dental Sealants Be Worth It?

If you consider the many benefits of dental sealants, it is not hard to see how they can impact your oral health. Besides, projecting the potential costs of restorative treatments you may need in the future is enough to prioritize dental sealants. However, as any dentist will tell you, dental sealants alone will not care for your teeth. For one, they can only protect the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. Therefore, the rest of your teeth are still at risk of infections if you do not practice good oral care. Support your dental sealants to fight oral infections through routine dental care measures like:

1. Brushing your teeth at least twice daily
2. Flossing daily
3. Eating healthily – while avoiding hard foods that can damage your sealants.
4. Visit your dentist regularly for dental cleanings and checkups.