Understanding Dental Sealants and Their Benefits

Artesia is a small town in California best known for its agriculture and farming. It makes sense that people residing there devour different types of foods. But do they know eating a variety of food and not maintaining proper dental hygiene affects overall health?

Any dentist in Artesia, CA, will give you a solution through dental sealants. In simple words, dental sealants are a thin protective coating that you apply to your teeth to protect them from decay. 

In this article, we will give you more details on the importance of Dental Sealants, how to use them, controversies, and more. 

What Are Dental Sealants? And its importance

Before discussing Dental Sealants, let us understand plaque and the reason behind it. More often than not, there are chips inside your teeth, and these pits cause food particles to get stuck, increasing plaque buildup and eventually causing bad bacteria. 

That is when Dental Sealants come in. They are a plastic resin formula applied to the areas of teeth used for chewing food. Sealants act like a barrier for these uneven areas, and when they get smoother, your brush can easily reach these spots and help clean them. 

Therefore, incorporating dental sealants will be really beneficial for people who have a hard time maintaining oral hygiene or even those with false teeth.

Types of Dental Sealants

There are two types of dental sealants, and the implementation of either one depends on the condition of your teeth and the dentist’s preference. Take a look:-

• Light-cured Sealants: This application gets hardened under a special light, and that further fastens the process of application.
• Self-cured Sealants: Hardening this application does not require any special light, as the process is done on its own. However, it may take longer than ligh-cured.

The usage of Dental Sealants

Typically, dental sealants are used for children when their permanent molars (the back of their teeth) are starting to come in. Dentists generally recommend them for kids who are prone to cavities or even those whose baby teeth are already showing signs of pits.

Concerns and Controversies 

Although research suggests that dental sealants are safe, if the sealant chip breaks and gets trapped within your teeth, you will be exposed to decay. However, visiting the dentist twice a year will be helpful, as the dental professional can identify the issue and thus replace it for you.

Make sure to schedule an appointment and speak to a dentist today!