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Get a dental sealant from Bellevue Azalea Dentistry for missing teeth.

Dental Sealants for Adults

The harsh reality is that many adults have lost at least a tooth at one point in their life. If you think hard about it, you’ll realize that teeth just don’t fall out. Tooth decay and gum disease are the most common causes of tooth loss. The solution to the rising cases of tooth loss is to find a way to protect the tooth from decay so that it wouldn’t lose its strength and fall out. 

That solution is what we know now as dental sealants. We’ll discuss getting dental sealants so that you won’t have to worry about your teeth decaying. A dental sealant is a thin, plastic protective coating usually painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent them from decaying. The essence of this article is to cover all about dental sealants in adults.

Adults and Prevention

Dental sealants are more often used for children, and teenagers because of the increased likelihood of their teeth getting decayed. Still, dental sealants can be useful for people no matter their age. Adults have their struggles with tooth loss too, and this is mostly because of poor oral hygiene. 

Brushing and flossing are key to ensuring that bacteria and plaque do not settle and accumulate on the teeth for a long time. Good oral hygiene also removes food particles from the corners of the teeth. Even with excellent oral hygiene, some adults still manage to get decayed teeth due to genes. Preventing decay is a much easier way to avoid stress. 

Suppose you have done everything you can to prevent it, and you still get tooth decay. In that case, you should consider discussing the option of dental sealants with  Dr. Uparika Sharma, a leading dentist at the Bellevue Azalea Dentistry.

Sealants

When it comes to dental sealants, there are two main types that your dentist may want to use. The first type, called resins, is very flexible. The dentists using it have all the time to paint the sealant on the targeted tooth. The great thing about resins is that they don’t harden/ cure until the dentist shines a curing light on them. 

The other type of sealant is called auto polymerizing, and it starts to harden immediately after the ingredients used to make it are mixed. The dentist doesn’t have much time to work with as the sealants will get too hard to be used after a specific time. The advantage of this is that the dentist performing the procedure doesn’t need more equipment, and it’s faster.

Sealant Treatment- Which Teeth?

The only way sealant treatment works is by applying it to the necessary teeth. Not all teeth are prone to decay as much as others. The chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars are the ideal teeth to use the sealant treatment on. 

The best thing for the dentists would be to apply sealants before a tooth has decay or fillings, but it’s tough to see an adult who hasn’t had at least one tooth decay or filling. Sealant treatment still works well even with decayed or filled teeth to prevent it from getting worse.

Application of Sealant

First, the dentist has to clean the tooth, condition it, and then dry it. The essence of it being dry is that it won’t interfere with the sealant and nullify the process. 

To apply the sealant, the dentist uses a brush or a syringe in some cases to cover the tooth. The liquid sealant goes to all the nooks and grooves to seal it.

After the sealing is done, the sealant will harden as expected. Finally, the dentist will check to make sure there’s no problem with the patient’s bite and make the proper adjustment along the way.

Dental Sealants for Adults: Pros and Cons

Sealants are more affordable than getting your cavities filled. They are also very effective in preventing decay in the chewing surfaces of your teeth, such as molars and premolars. Sealants are an easy way to prevent tooth decay, but that doesn’t mean that you should not practice good oral hygiene.

Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly can help you keep your teeth in pristine condition. Another great way to prevent decay is by visiting your dentists often to check the state of your sealants and replace them as the case may be.

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About the Author
Dr. Uparika Sharma is the founder dentist of Bellevue Azalea Dentistry. In addition to general dental procedures, she evaluates TMJ, cervical spine, airway problems, chronic headache, and CRPS.

Author

Dr. Uparika Sharma is a trusted dentist. She has been practicing for over 5 years at Bellevue Azalea Dentistry clinic. She holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from the University of Washington. Dr. Uparika Sharma is a member of the American Dental Association.