How Long Does Dental Sealant Last?

Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied on the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars in an effort to prevent dental decay. When a dental sealant is painted on teeth, it bonds into your teeth’ grooves and depressions to form a protective coat over each tooth enamel.

Thorough teeth brushing and flossing are usually not enough to eliminate all the food particles stuck between your dental grooves. The bristles from your brush are not able to get into the tiny crannies and nooks of your back teeth to remove the particles. As these particles accumulate, they cause dental plaque and decay to attack your teeth, causing cavities. Sealants help protect such vulnerable areas from decay as it ‘seals out’ food and plaque.

Do Adults Need Dental Sealants?

Kids between the age of 6 and 14 are the most affected by dental caries, but this isn’t an indication that adults are immune to cavities. A tooth cavity can affect any individual irrespective of age, especially those who consume high-sugar beverages and foods or practice poor oral hygiene.

If your teeth are decay and cavity-free, you can get sealants from a dentist near you as a preventative action against decay. You can also have sealants applied on your adult molars if they have minor dental decay to avoid cavities in the future. Unfortunately, people whose teeth already have fillings cannot get sealants.

Types of Tooth Sealants

Dental sealants are made from a combination of resins, fillers, and chemicals. Two common types of sealants are widely used in preventive dental care: composite resin and glass ionomers.

Each type of material used to make sealants has its differences, and the dentist will have to weigh which one suits your kid best. Some materials flow readily into the pits and grooves of teeth, while others are resistant to wear and tear. You should know that all sealants are safe regardless of the type you choose for your kid’s treatment.

The only side effect of sealants is that they may trigger an allergic reaction in some people. These adverse reactions are, however, not very common and affect a very small percentage of people. When visiting your dentist, whether to get sealants or not, it is always a good idea to discuss any allergies you or your lid may have.

• • Composite Resin

Dental sealants made of composite resin are tooth-colored, meaning they blend perfectly with your child’s mouth. This type of sealant is more durable compared to glass ionomers, but it is not designed to release fluoride from time to time, so it doesn’t offer any additional benefit.

• • Glass Ionomers

Glass ionomers sealants are an alternative to composite resin, and their use is preferred on baby teeth. This material is more flexible and does not need any curing with light to bond with teeth. After this sealant is bonded to your child’s teeth, it will slowly release fluoride to strengthen their tooth enamel over time.

Although the durability of glass ionomer sealants is not that great, they make up for it by providing significant cavity prevention benefits.

How Long Do Sealants Last?

The lifespan of dental sealants in Spirit Lake, IA, can stretch for several years but only under good conditions. Maintaining routine oral exams and professional dental cleaning is recommended to allow the dentist to routinely monitor the sealant’s condition for optimum protection. If your child’s dental practitioner spots signs of a worn-out sealant, they will remove the remaining sealant and reapply a new one on the whole chewing surface.

The materials used to create sealants are not strong enough to last for a lifetime. Tooth sealants will therefore need to be redone and monitored periodically for them to effectively protect teeth against decay.

At Great Lakes Dental Associates, our dentist will help you know whether sealants are an ideal choice for your kid depending on the state of their oral health. Book an appointment for your child with our dentist in Spirit Lake for a dental checkup and evaluation first before getting the sealants.

Tips to Prevent Cavities

• Maintain good dental hygiene, such as brushing teeth, tongue scraping, and flossing.
• Avoid skipping your dental checkups to facilitate early detection of oral issues.
• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste.
• Maintain a healthy diet by limiting your consumption of sugary or processed beverages and foods. Some of the foods that