Am I a Suitable Candidate for Sealants?

Although brushing and flossing remove food particles and plaque from your teeth, they only do so on smooth surfaces. There is a need to protect the nooks and crannies in your molars and premolars. Sealants are thin, plastic coatings that dentists apply to the chewing surfaces of teeth. They usually prevent tooth decay in the back teeth.

How Do They Work?

Sealants get into the grooves of teeth and bond to them. They form a protective shield that extends to the rest of the enamel of each tooth. They protect the vulnerable areas from bacteria and plaque by sealing them out.

Who Should Get Sealants?

Anyone can benefit from getting dental sealants. However, they are more beneficial to some people than others. Here is a list of some people who would make ideal candidates.

People With a History of Dental Decay

People with a history of dental decay have a likelihood of experiencing more tooth decay in the future. Hence, it makes sense for them to get sealants to protect the teeth that do not have cavities. They should do this sooner rather than later when they are already experiencing more issues.

Children With New Teeth

These are the best candidates for dental sealants. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that children do not take good care of their teeth, so they may end up with cavities that may cause complications that extend into the future.

Secondly, dental sealing ensures that their teeth do not develop any damage. It allows them to grow and fall out when they need to instead of losing them earlier. It helps protect the milk teeth and ensures that the child develops permanent, well-aligned teeth.

People With Deep Grooves

Bacteria and plaque collect in the deep grooves of teeth. People with deep grooves on their teeth are susceptible to cavities and tooth decay. These grooves are not easy to clean by brushing or flossing. Sealants are the best hope for such people to keep their teeth and prevent them from cavities.

People With Health Issues That Make Dental Hygiene Difficult

Some medical conditions make it hard to take care of your teeth. These include:
 

• Paralysis in your arms.

• Alzheimer’s disease.

• Arm amputation.

• Mental ailments.

These people will benefit greatly from dental sealants. In some cases, it may create the foundation for ensuring they can have a healthy diet.

People With Lifestyles That Promote Dental Issues

Some lifestyles will make you susceptible to dental problems. These lifestyles include:

• Having a poor diet

• Eating snacks that contain high sugars and carbohydrates

• Smoking

• Going to bed late

The best thing to do in these cases is to change your lifestyle. However, you can get dental sealants to protect your teeth as you work on your lifestyle. Better yet, you can do both by getting dental sealants and changing your lifestyle.

For more information on sealants, call Castro Valley Dentistry at (510) 674-0900 to reach our office in Castro Valley, California.