Are Dental Sealants Truly As Effective As Their Claim to Be?

Dental sealants are reputed to prevent cavities in children as well as adults for many years but are they truly as effective as they claim to be? It has often been mentioned that brushing teeth is important but a more effective method of preventing cavities children is by getting dental sealants. If you research dental sealants near you the dentist at the clinic will provide you information that this is a relatively simple and inexpensive procedure for children that is highly beneficial.

Dental sealants are painted on the teeth as protection against cavities. The procedure is painless and can cost between $30-$60 per tooth. Discount plans and insurance can reduce the costs by some margin. The trend of dental sealants is gaining traction as nearly 50 percent of children have them. They have been effective for over four decades and are considered safe and effective for everyone.

What Does The Research Reveal?

Reports from the CDC mention that dental sealants can prevent 80 percent cavities for up to two years after being applied. The protection continues against 50 percent cavities for up to four years. The sealants applied can be retained in the mouth for about nine years. Approximately 43 percent of children in the age group of 6 to 11 have a dental sealant in their mouths. Children from higher-income households figure prominently among the children that have sealants while 20 percent of children from lower-income households do not have them. The incidence of cavities among children without sealants is almost 3 times higher than children with sealants.

Significant savings of up to $300 million in dental treatment costs can be achieved by applying sealants in school-based programs to approximately 7 million children that don’t have the sealants in their mouths. Sealants are applied in a noninvasive treatment but need to be monitored and maintained by visiting dentists regularly to ensure they have not worn off. Practitioners need to apply the sealants correctly because they are technically sensitive to the areas where they are placed.

Why Are Sealants Considered Essential?

Children are known to report lost school time because of tooth decay as it can interfere with their sleeping, eating, and other activities. Additionally, they can prevent cavities and ensure that the teeth remain intact. The natural structure of the tooth is compromised when it is drilled, filled, restored or extracted. Significant costs are involved in maintaining the restored implant or tooth.

Disadvantages Of Sealants

Some disadvantages and potential problems also exist with sealants mention the dentists applying dental sealants in Highland Village. They need to be applied again if they chip away, fall out or wear. During the replacement, additional material may need to be drilled or removed by using a scaler. The concerns of environmental exposure about synthetic estrogens like bisphenol A [BPA] have also been expressed.

The levels of BPA in the saliva are at their highest three hours after the application and return to the baseline in about a day. However, the levels of BPA have not been detected in blood serum during clinical studies and therefore additional research is required.

Parents that are concerned about BPA levels more than the risks of tooth decay must understand that treating the decay will expose children to many dental materials with more chemicals than BPA. Despite alternative materials for sealants existing sufficient information is not available about whether they are better than the sealants containing BPA.

The Long-Term Benefits Of Dental Sealants

The dentist offering dental sealants in Highland Village TX will confirm that the sealants if applied perfectly, can last for a lifetime. However, it has been observed that they often need to be replaced. When children begin getting new teeth with grooves such as molars and premolars the sealants need to be applied again. If the child is old enough to tolerate the procedure baby or primary teeth can also be sealed. Generally, younger children undergo the procedure of getting sealants only when they are displaying an increased risk of tooth decay.

It is recommended that individual advice be sought from the dental team on when the sealants should be applied. Any vulnerable surfaces must be sealed but retention is better in the grooves. People regardless of their age can benefit from sealants because their exposure to tooth decay increases. They are also affected by the protective quality and changes in saliva with medications over time. Therefore, it can be safely assumed that adults are also candidates for dental sealants.

Dental sealants are truly effective and have proven themselves over time. It is the reason why they are recommended by dentists as well as the CDC as an effective option to prevent cavities and tooth decay.