We always hear our parents telling us to brush and floss our teeth regularly. However, did you know that aside from these two important practices, there are also other things that provide protection to our teeth? One of these is the dental sealants. 

Dental sealants have been used in protecting teeth from cavities as early as the 1960s. It is a liquid that is applied to the teeth to protect them against tooth decay and plaque buildup. 

How are dental sealants applied?

The liquid will dry up and coat the teeth forming a strong bond preventing the teeth from decaying. The application of a dental sealant is painless and will only take a few minutes. Your dentist will check your teeth and evaluate the condition of each tooth, especially the molars. Then your teeth will be cleaned thoroughly to remove acids from the food you eat and make sure that there are no food particles left in between each tooth. 

Once your teeth have dried up, your dentist will apply an acid solution on the teeth, paying particular attention to the crevices and chewing surfaces of the teeth. The solution will help the sealant bond to your teeth faster. After rinsing and drying your teeth, your dentist will then apply the sealant directly to the tooth enamel. You have to wait for the sealant to get dry and bonded with your teeth before rinsing it. Dental sealants will act as a shield to your teeth against their acidic environment and bacteria for up to 10 years. 

Why are dental sealants important?

According to the report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2016, sealants reduce the risk of tooth decay in children by almost 80%; and those children without sealants have almost three times more cavities. This figure is enough to explain the importance of dental sealants. Other reasons why sealants are important includes:

1. It protects your teeth against cavities
   

The main function of dental sealants is to provide protection; especially the pits and fissures of the molars where cavities usually start. Dental sealants are another healthy way of protecting your teeth, or your child’s teeth, against cavities and dental problems. Once it has thoroughly bonded with your tooth’s enamel, you can be sure that acids from the food you eat can’t easily wear it down and plaques can’t easily form on it. 

2. It is easy to maintain and saves you money
   

Dental treatment can be really costly. Not to mention the time it requires sitting in the waiting area to have your dental filling, tooth extraction due to cavities, and other treatments. With dental sealants, you will no longer need to worry about dealing with a painful toothache because of cavities or schedule for dental crowns and fillings since the sealant can reduce its risk remarkably. With its 10 years of protection on your teeth, this is also the length of time you can save money for dental treatments. It is so easy to maintain too. Your dentist will just replace or reapply sealants if he notices that it’s chipping or wearing out.