5 Things To Know About Dental Sealants
Does your child now have their adult molars, and you are wondering if they should get dental sealants? If so, it will help to know the following things about them.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are made of a composite resin material that is placed on the chewing surface of a person's rear molars. They are made out of a thin layer of composite resin, and they act as a protective barrier on the tooth that prevents the tooth from decaying. Those rear molars have small fissures in them, which are more prone to having bacteria grow and decay form over time. By filling in those fissures with a dental sealant, it makes it less likely that you'll have a cavity form in the tooth.
Are Dental Sealants Necessary?
Nobody has to get dental sealants. It is a completely optional preventative dental care procedure, and anybody can get it done to their adult molars. While it is not necessary to get dental sealants, it is recommended for young children. They may not be that great at taking care of their teeth, and because of that, they are more prone to having cavities form on those chewing surfaces.
How Are Dental Sealants Installed?
The process of getting dental sealants is quick and painless, and your dentist will not even use a form of anesthesia during the procedure. An acid is used to demineralize the surface of the tooth. Then the acid is washed away, and the grooves of the tooth's surface are covered with a composite resin material. The patient's bite is checked to make sure that the sealants did not cause any complications, and then a special light is used to harden the resin and help it bond with the tooth's surface.
Do Dental Sealants Last Forever?
A dental sealant is not a permanent fixture of the tooth. It will wear away over time and will be inspected by the dentist during exams to identify if it needs to be replaced. However, you'll get many years of use out of your dental sealants, which will make getting them well worth it.
Does Insurance Cover Dental Sealants?
It is always worth checking with your dental insurance provider to find out if they cover dental sealants. Since it is a preventative dental care procedure designed to prevent cavities and other complications, it is likely that you have some sort of coverage for dental sealants as part of your plan.
Contact your dentist to learn more about dental sealants and other preventative dental care options.
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