Childrens Dentistry Tips

Dental Sealants are becoming more and more popular and for good reason, they actually work.

Most of the general public don’t really understand how dental sealants work or if they work.  So I thought I would answer some of the most common questions asked about sealants and hopefully clear up any misunderstandings about dental sealants.  So let’s get started:

How does a sealant help prevent tooth decay?

A sealant is a white or transparent plastic coating that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth—1st and 2nd molars and premolars as they erupt. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures to be more technical) of the chewing surfaces of back molars. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, but the bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to remove food and plaque. The purpose of the sealant is to cover the deep grooves in the middle of the tooth so food particles and bacteria will not accumulate and start tooth decay.

Is applying the sealant a complicated procedure?

Sealants are an easy process and it only takes your dentist a few minutes to apply each sealant. The teeth that will be sealed are thoroughly cleaned and dried. Then the chewing surfaces are roughened slightly with an acidy type solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. The sealant is then applied to the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Usually a UV curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

As long as the sealant remains intact and isn’t broken or lost, the tooth will be protected from tooth decay.  Sealants are very strong and have no problem holding up with normal chewing and should last you several years before reapplying is needed.   During your normal dental visits, your dentist will check the condition of the sealant to make sure they are still intact with the tooth and have no cracks.

Can adults get sealants or are they just for kids?

Normally the likelihood of developing any type of pit and fissure decay begins early in life, so children and teenagers are usually the prime candidate. But adults can benefit from sealants as well.

There are key ingredients in preventing tooth decay and maintaining a healthy mouth.  They are:

• Brushing twice daily with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste;
• Flossing your teeth daily;
• Eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks;
• And visiting your dentist regularly, usually every six months minimum unless otherwise stated by your dentist.

Call your dentist today and find out if Sealants are right for you or your kids.  For those of you living in the Sacramento California area, give the Charles Dental Group a call and we’ll be happy to help you.

I hope this brief article has answered any questions you had about dental sealants.  For more information on tooth decay and simple methods of controlling it, read Six Methods of Controlling Tooth Decay.

- Andrea Hersh, DDS
Healthy Kids
Cool Kids & Family Dentistry
Todays Dental Recommendation - My recommendation for today is easy…get your kids Dental Sealants!

I’ve been a dentist for quite a while and seen all variations of tooth decay. It is an increasing problem with our kids and we, as parents, need to learn some simple and basic steps to keeping our childrens teeth as healthy as possible. Before we go into the Six Methods of Controlling Tooth Decay, let’s me first outline how tooth decay happens:

How Tooth Decay Happens

Tooth decay is caused by certain types of bacteria (mutans streptococci and lactobacilli) that live in your mouth. When they attach themselves to the teeth and multiply in dental plaque, they can do damage.

The bacteria feed on what you eat, especially sugars (including fruit sugars) and cooked starch (bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, etc.). Within about five minutes after you eat or drink, the bacteria begin producing acids as a byproduct of their digesting your food. Those acids can penetrate into the hard substance of the tooth and dissolve some of the minerals (calcium and phosphate).

If the acid attacks are infrequent and of short duration, your saliva can help to repair the damage by neutralizing the acids and supplying minerals and fluoride that can replace those lost from the tooth. However, if your mouth is dry (especially at night), you have many of these bacteria, or you snack frequently; then the tooth mineral lost by attacks of acids is too great and cannot be repaired. This is the start of tooth decay and leads to cavities.

Now that you know how tooth decay happens, let’s outline the Six Methods of Controlling Tooth Decay.

Six Methods of Controlling Tooth Decay

1. Diet: Reducing the number of sugary and starchy foods, snacks, drinks, or candies can help reduce the development of tooth decay. That does not mean you can never eat these types of foods, but you should limit their consumption particularly when eaten between main meals. A good rule is three meals per day and no more than three snacks per day.

2. Saliva: Saliva is critical for controlling tooth decay. It neutralizes acids and provides minerals and proteins that protect the teeth. If you cannot brush after a meal or snack, you can chew some sugar-free gum. This will stimulate the flow of saliva to help neutralize acids and bring lost minerals back to the teeth.

3. Plaque removal: Removing the plaque from your teeth on a daily basis is helpful in controlling tooth decay. If you have an appliance such as an orthodontic retainer or partial denture, remove it before brushing your teeth. Brush all surfaces of the appliance also.

4. Antibacterial mouthrinses: Rinses that your dentist can prescribe are able to reduce the number of bacteria that cause tooth decay and can be useful in patients at high risk for tooth decay.

5. Fluorides: Fluorides help make teeth more resistant to being dissolved by bacterial acids. Fluorides are available from a variety of sources such as drinking water, toothpaste, over-the-counter rinses, and products prescribed by your dentist such as brush-on gels used at home or gels and foams applied in the dental office.

6. Sealants: Sealants are plastic coatings bonded to the biting surfaces of back teeth to protect the deep grooves from decay. In some people, the grooves on the surfaces of the teeth are too narrow and deep to clean with a toothbrush, so they may decay in spite of your best efforts. Sealants are an excellent preventive measure for children and young adults at risk for decay.

As you can see, some of those steps are pretty easy and you may do already. Diet is usually the hardest for everyone, but as long as you don’t go overboard and brush your teeth twice a day you will reduce your risk of tooth decay drastically.

If your children have not received Sealants yet, I highly recommend them. Make an appointment with your children’s dentist and have them done as soon as you can. It will save time and money on future visits. Sealants are well worth it.

Later on I will go over in more detail each of the Six Methods of Controlling Tooth Decay. Until then keep your kids healthy and full of good nutrition!
- Andrea Hersh, DDS
Healthy Kids
Cool Kids & Family Dentistry
Todays Dental Recommendation - My recommendation for today is easy…get your kids Sealants!