You may have noticed that when your children were between the ages of 6 and 11, they received sealants on their teeth. Many children get sealants on their teeth as a way to protect those teeth from cavities.
However, did you know that adults may also need sealants too? In fact, for some adults, sealants are a necessity. If you are unsure about whether or not you need sealants, why not keep reading?
Why Would An Adult Need Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants prevent cavities by creating a barrier in between your teeth and bacteria or plaque that can cause cavities. In general, sealants are made of a thin layer of plastic that is applied to the surface of a tooth, usually where you chew your food. This means that usually, the sealants are applied to your premolars or molars, where most of your chewing takes place.
Sealants take very little time to apply. Usually, the tooth’s surface is cleaned, dried, and roughed up a bit with a gel, so that the sealant can adhere faster. After the sealant is applied, it is fixed to the tooth with a light. There’s no need to deaden your tooth, and you can be in and out of the dentist’s office in minutes.
Sealants are helpful as an adult for several reasons. First, just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you are immune to tooth decay. Anyone can get tooth decay at any age. Second, some adults are more prone to tooth decay in the molars than other adults due to genetics. For example, there are adults with really deep grooves in their molars. These grooves make it difficult to clean teeth properly, and these molars are where cavities are likely to form. Putting a sealant on back molars may prevent tooth decay.
Sealants also prevent food, bacteria and plaque from staying on your teeth. If you do happen to get food on your teeth, the food can be quickly brushed or washed away much easier than on unsealed teeth.
If you have questions about your teeth, why not give us a call? We would love to talk to you about whether or not you need to seal your teeth!
