What Are Sealants? Why Should I Get Sealants?
Why are things sealed? We seal food to help preserve it and ultimately it will last longer. We also seal leaks in our homes. This stops unwanted air from entering your home. Another great example of sealants is when we seal between a bath and the wall. This is important because it prevents water from seeping between the two, ultimately causing damage. So then why do we seal our teeth?
The Benefits of Sealants
Some of our back teeth have deep grooves in them, which is where tooth decay often starts. Bacteria love to live in these deep grooves and create acid, which is the leading reason for decay. Placing sealants in these grooves is a highly effective way of preventing cavities. And what’s awesome about this, is x-rays have shown that when teeth were sealed, decay did not progress over a 10-year period and studies have revealed that sealants are responsible for reducing cavities by 52% during a 15-year period. That means fewer visits to your dentist and less treatment.
Sealants are a tooth-colored covering and are applied without the use of anesthesia. Typically, and depending on the number of teeth being sealed, a visit can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Once it is complete, the tooth surface is sealed and is smooth and easy to keep clean. Sealants are like the raincoats to our teeth and if they are recommended, you can rest assured that they will help you in maintaining that healthy, beautiful smile.