What are dental sealants, how do they work, and what does the process entail? We explain everything you need to know in this guide.

What Are Dental Sealants?

A dental sealant is a plastic seal that dental technicians paint on the chewing surfaces of a child's teeth. They focus primarily on treating the back teeth. These teeth tend to have cavities more quickly because children have a difficult time adequately brushing these hard-to-reach teeth. 



The sealant quickly bonds to all of the grooves and depressions of the teeth, forming a shield that covers each tooth's enamel. 

Children and adults alike who have dental sealants still need to brush and floss thoroughly. The sealants just protect the nooks and crannies of those back teeth where food tends to stick. 

Who Needs Dental Sealants?

Adults and children alike benefit from dental sealants. However, the sooner children have them, the more effective the sealants are. Usually, dentists recommend children have them put on as soon as their molars erupt, so around age six.



When the teeth come in, dentists can keep them cavity-free from the beginning by sealing out the food and liquids that can cause decay that will require additional dental services to be done.

How Do Dental Sealants Work?

Every tooth in your mouth provides a breeding ground for cavities. Molars are especially vulnerable because they're so difficult to reach and they have more pits and grooves on their surfaces.

Dental sealants create a covering over those pits and grooves. So while you could just brush and floss thoroughly and diligently, you'll always miss some of those pits and grooves. 

Dental sealants act like a thin, plastic coating. Food particles can still get stuck in your teeth, but they cannot cause decay because they cannot penetrate the surface of the sealant. 



Your front teeth do not need the sealant as much as your back teeth because you're easily able to brush them. Toothpaste and fluoride from drinking water help these teeth stay healthy. 

How Are Dental Sealants Applied?

Sealants take minutes to apply and cause no pain.

Dentists in Honesdale PA begin by cleaning the teeth they will seal. They dry each tooth and surround each tooth with an absorbent material to keep it dry. 

They then apply an acid solution. This solution helps the sealant stick to the teeth. After this, the dental professional will rinse and dry the tooth. 



They end the process by painting the sealing unto the tooth enamel. The sealant bonds directly to the tooth and hardens in a couple of minutes. Some dentists will use a curing light which helps the sealant harden more quickly. 

How to Prevent Cavities?

Sealants effectively prevent cavities in back teeth for some time. They work especially well for small children who cannot adequately brush their teeth.

You can prevent cavities with your own behavior outside of getting sealants on your teeth. Here are a few things you can do. 

Brush and Floss

You should brush and floss your teeth at least two times a day. If you can, you should brush every time you eat, using toothpaste with fluoride. You should also use dental floss to catch the food particles between your teeth. 

U

se a fluoride mouthwash as well to catch the particles between your teeth. This has worked especially well for children who understand the concept of rinsing and spitting. 

Schedule Regular Dentist Visits

Regular visits to the dentist can keep small problems from turning into big problems. A dentist will spot the small cavities or imperfections that could lead to massive dental emergencies down the road. Most dentists recommend a visit once to twice a year. 

Turn On the Faucet

Most tap water from public water supplies has fluoride. This chemical prevents tooth decay. Thus, drinking tap water can help prevent cavities. 

If you're stuck on bottled water, drink a glass of tap water once a day or supplement it with fluoride tablets. 

If you do not get enough fluoride, your dentist will recommend fluoride treatments. These are custom-fit trays that fit over your teeth. You let your teeth soak in the treatment for a prescribed amount of time. 

Avoid Snacking

When you eat food and drink sugary beverages, your mouth bacteria create acid. Your mouth needs this acid to properly digest the food. Unfortunately, the same acid destroys tooth enamel. 

Thus, when you snack throughout the day, you put your teeth at risk of decay by constantly introducing enamel-destroying acid. 

Snacks For Your Teeth

Pick snacks that are kind to your teeth. Stay away from sugary processed foods that can get stuck in your teeth. Instead, opt for fresh vegetables or fruit, and drink coffee, tea, and water. 

If you do have a treat like a cookie or some cake, brush your teeth immediately after you're done. 

Anti-Bacterial Treatments

Some medical conditions make tooth decay more likely. For example, cancer patients receiving radiation treatments are more likely to develop dental cavities. In those cases, ask your dentist about antibacterial mouth rinses to see if this reduces the likelihood of dental cavities.

Love Your Teeth

You receive only one set of teeth in this lifetime. When you do not care for them from the start, they will decay, and you'll find yourself making difficult choices about tooth replacement.

You can prevent dental problems with dental sealants both for your children and yourself. If you have your dentist complete this painless, simple procedure, you'll find yourself with less tooth pain. You can also hope that your children will have healthy mouths for years to come. 

Do you need dental care? Are you looking for a dentist in Honesdale, PA?



If so, contact us. Our knowledgeable, caring staff is waiting, ready to help you with whatever dental needs you have.