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What Should You Know about Dental Sealants, Marietta?

BY East Cobb Family Dentistry

Dental sealants, in effect, are plastic coatings which are placed on the occlusal surface of the permanent teeth at the back of the mouth. These are primarily the molars and premolars. The sealants provide a lot of protection from tooth decay. In actuality, the chewing surface of the molar and premolar has fissures or grooves on them. This makes them an ideal candidate for tooth decay since food particles can easily get stuck in them. The fissures are pretty deep and are not easy to clean since toothbrush bristles may not be able to reach their bottom. Hence, plaque can accumulate in them easily and this leads to the beginning of tooth decay. Fluoride, for that matter, aids and abets in preventing tooth decay by providing cover to the surface of the tooth. With dental sealants, one is given extra protection and a smooth surface by covering up all the fissured areas of the tooth.When are the dental sealants put in place?In most events, the first sealant which is put into place is in the groove of the first permanent molar tooth. This is once the chewing surface of the tooth has erupted fully over and above the gums. The sealants are placed only on the surface of the tooth which is meant for the function of chewing since these have fissures on them. Sealants usually are placed on the teeth of children. However, in some cases dental sealants are also placed in adults to prevent the risk of caries, on the grooves which do not have fillings in them. Incidentally, dental sealants are clear in color, white or have a very mild tinted appearance (this varies as per which sealant has been used). What should you know about dental sealants, Marietta?Dental sealants, in effect, are plastic coatings which are placed on the occlusal surface of the permanent teeth at the back of the mouth. These are primarily the molars and premolars. The sealants provide a lot of protection from tooth decay. In actuality, the chewing surface of the molar and premolar has fissures or grooves on them. This makes them an ideal candidate for tooth decay since food particles can easily get stuck in them. The fissures are pretty deep and are not easy to clean since toothbrush bristles may not be able to reach their bottom. Hence, plaque can accumulate in them easily and this leads to the beginning of tooth decay. Fluoride, for that matter, aids and abets in preventing tooth decay by providing cover to the surface of the tooth. With dental sealants, one is given extra protection and a smooth surface by covering up all the fissured areas of the tooth.When are the dental sealants put in place?In most events, the first sealant which is put into place is in the groove of the first permanent molar tooth. This is once the chewing surface of the tooth has erupted fully over and above the gums. The sealants are placed only on the surface of the tooth which is meant for the function of chewing since these have fissures on them. Sealants usually are placed on the teeth of children. However, in some cases dental sealants are also placed in adults to prevent the risk of caries, on the grooves which do not have fillings in them. Incidentally, dental sealants are clear in color, white or have a very mild tinted appearance (this varies as per which sealant has been used).How exactly are the dental sealants placed?The first step involves a thorough cleansing of the tooth surface with a paste and a rotating brush. Then comes washing and drying of the tooth. After this, an acidic solution is put into the fissured area of the surface of the tooth for a few seconds and this is then rinsed. Due to this, very tiny fissures are created on the surface of the tooth which is visible only via a microscope. This roughness of the fissures helps in the dental sealant hooking itself up with the tooth. The tooth is dried and the liquid dental sealant is put on the tooth and turned hard over there. This hardening is done by making use of a curing light. At times, a two-component dental sealant which sets without using light can be made use of as well. A point to be remembered is that the dental sealant only takes care of the area in which it is placed. However, fluoride is still to be used since this gives cover to the entire surface of the tooth from rot and cavity-formation. Sealants can last for a long time if they are cared for properly.For more details contact: 2969 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30062. Call: (770)913-6800.How exactly are the dental sealants placed?The first step involves a thorough cleansing of the tooth surface with a paste and a rotating brush. Then comes washing and drying of the tooth. After this, an acidic solution is put into the fissured area of the surface of the tooth for a few seconds and this is then rinsed. Due to this, very tiny fissures are created on the surface of the tooth which is visible only via a microscope. This roughness of the fissures helps in the dental sealant hooking itself up with the tooth. The tooth is dried and the liquid dental sealant is put on the tooth and turned hard over there. This hardening is done by making use of a curing light. At times, a two-component dental sealant which sets without using light can be made use of as well. A point to be remembered is that the dental sealant only takes care of the area in which it is placed. However, fluoride is still to be used since this gives cover to the entire surface of the tooth from rot and cavity-formation. Sealants can last for a long time if they are cared for properly.For more details contact: 2969 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30062. Call: (770)913-6800.

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