Dental Sealants
East Dundee, IL
Dental Sealants provided by Dr. Gregory M. Neu, DDS
in East Dundee, IL at Neu Family Dental
Dental caries, which is widely known as tooth decay, are still in the upper echelon in the list of the most common chronic diseases among children and adults.
Clinical studies suggest that approximately 26 percent of adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have untreated tooth decays.
Also, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research concluded that 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11 already has a decaying tooth.
To help combat tooth decay Neu Family Dental highly recommends the use of dental sealants to help protect your tooth.
While commonly used in pediatric dentistry, dental sealants are available to all dental patients and can provide a protective barrier to help protect your teeth.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are delicate plastic coatings, which are often placed on the chewing area of the back teeth known as the premolars and molars.
The process is primarily used to safeguard the teeth of the patient from decay, as this is considered a difficult area to brush properly.
However, we can broaden the use of sealants as it can also be applied to other areas of the patient's teeth to increase the level of protection all of your teeth experience.
While fluoride plays a major role in preventing tooth decay, a dental sealant has been scientifically proven to add an extra level of security for the pitted surfaces of the tooth.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, sealants have been proven effective in slowing down the breakthrough of initial lesions of the tooth.
Why Are Dental Sealants Important?
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research added that a sealant would serve as a roadblock of the tooth from leftover food particles and bacteria.
In fact, sealants have demonstrated to cut the chance of decay by close to 80 percent.
Furthermore, studies have found that it is best for children age 6 to 14 to get dental sealants since this age range is at a higher risk for cavities.
In most cases, dental sealants can also be used in baby teeth to ensure the right spacing of the permanent teeth by preventing damage and decay.
How Dental Sealants Are Placed
To perfectly place a dental sealant, we will first carefully clean the surface before rinsing the tooth with water.
Once it dries, an acidic gel will be gently applied to the chewing surface of the tooth.
We will allow the gel to coat the tooth and begin to dry before hardening it with the use of blue light. It will then start to develop into a hard plastic that will help to protect the teeth.
As to its life expectancy, dental sealants are expected to last for several years, but it is necessary to set up appointments now and then with our office to check on the condition of the dental sealants and the rest of our teeth.
If the sealant has become damaged or worn down, we can reapply the sealants as needed.
Questions? Concerns? Call!
If you have any additional questions or concerns about dental sealants, or to schedule an appointment, contact Neu Family Dental at (847) 230-9143 to a schedule an appointment today. |
