Dental sealants are a great way to prevent cavities in your molars because molars are notoriously difficult to brush and to keep food particles out of. While dental sealants are wonderful, they aren't for everyone. Here are some guidelines you can use to determine whether sealants might be right for you.
What Are Sealants?
Sealants are a material that a dentist brushes on the surface of your molars to protect them from cavities. Once the dentist brushes on the sealant, they apply a light to harden the sealant. Sealants are non-toxic and can be reapplied if necessary. In fact, sealants will need to be replaced every five to eight years, but some sealants will last longer. Dentists usually check sealants at every checkup to make sure they are still working properly.
Should I Get Sealants?
There are some criteria you can think about to consider if your molars might need sealants. First, do you already have cavities in your molars? If you have a cavity in one molar, there's a high probability you might get cavities in another, so having the dentist apply sealants is a great idea. Second, if you have especially deep grooves in your molars, you should think about sealants. The deeper the grooves in your molars are, the more likely you are to get cavities. That's because food particles become trapped in the grooves. The grooves are also difficult to brush because the molars are so far back in your mouth. Third, if you have children who are getting their molars in, you might want to think about getting them sealed. Children have difficulty brushing their back teeth, so cavities are more likely.
If you are considering getting your molars sealed, it would be a great idea to bring it up with the dentist. They can check your molars and have a conversation with you about the use of sealants.
Dentist Tigard, OR | Dental Blog - Lincoln Center Smiles Dr. Saklofsky has created an educational blog as a resource for our patients. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please share it to social media, then call (971) 317-9499 to make an appointment. Lincoln Center Smiles, 10500 SW Greenburg Rd, Suite 3, Portland, OR 97223-1406 ^ (503) 598-0898 ^ sakdental.com ^ 10/1/2024 ^ Key Phrases: dentist Tigard OR ^
Dental sealants are a great way to prevent cavities in your molars because molars are notoriously difficult to brush and to keep food particles out of. While dental sealants are wonderful, they aren't for everyone. Here are some guidelines you can use to determine whether sealants might be right for you.