Dental Sealants

Do you know what causes tooth decay?

If you said sugar, you would be correct!

Food can sometimes get stuck in the grooves of your teeth, and when bacteria in your mouth comes in contact with sugar, it creates a harmful acid causing tooth decay. Fillings are the only option when there is a decay or cavity in your teeth.

Fortunately, cavities can be reduced by getting dental sealants which help seal your teeth from food, sugar, and bacteria. Sometimes, it is best for children to get sealants as soon as their permanent teeth has come in. Sealants can also be advantageous for teens or young adults who are prone to cavities.

Fortunately, cavities can be reduced by getting dental sealants which help seal your teeth from food, sugar, and bacteria. Sometimes, it is best for children to get sealants as soon as their permanent teeth has come in. Sealants can also be advantageous for teens or young adults who are prone to cavities.
 

About Dental Sealants

Although not many patients have heard of sealants, they have been used since the 1960s. A sealant is a plastic coating that is applied onto the surface of the tooth to smoothes out the bumps, grooves, and pits. This avoids the food from getting stuck in the teeth and in turn reduces the possibility of decays.
The two types of sealants that exist are the resin based and glass ionomer sealants. While the resin-based sealants are commonly used and are longer lasting than the ionomer sealants, there are no differences in effectiveness between the two.


The Procedure

The steps of the sealant application is painless and are listed below.

1. The dentist will clean the tooth thoroughly to dispel any food or bacteria that could be on your tooth.
2. The tooth is then dried and a piece of cotton is put around your tooth to absorb any moisture.
3. A solution might be applied on the tooth to make the surface rougher as sealants stick to rough surfaces conveniently.
4. Finally, the sealant is applied onto the tooth enamel in a liquid form that harden within a few seconds.

The Benefits

The most recognizable benefit of sealants is that they reduce the chance of tooth decays by sealing the teeth from harmful bacteria that can cause cavities. In addition, sealants are an investment since it will reduce the time and money spent at the dentist in the long run. Typically, sealants cost significantly less than fillings, which is what would be required in case of cavities. Some insurances cover the cost of sealants and some schools have sealant programs for kids.


Ask Your Dentist

With time, sealants will wear and chip off when we chew food and therefore will need to be touched up every few years. Your dentist will be able to tell you if your sealants are in the condition it should be and fix them if they are not, during your annual check-ups.

Tooth Paste Abrasion

What is Abrasion?
Abrasion is a process of wearing down and away or scraping of something.

How does Abrasion relate to teeth?
Overtime acidic foods and drinks, improper brushing and tooth paste can slowly wear away surfaces of our teeth. The fist layer of our teeth is enamel. This is the outer whitest surface of the tooth. The enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body, but can be dematerialized because it is composed of minerals. The second layer is much softer and likely to wear away because it is less mineralized and appears yellow in color. Overtime constant scrapping of materials used in the mouth can contribute to the process of abrasion.


Where does Toothpaste come into play?
Every day we use toothpaste to help mechanically clean and refresh our mouths. There are wide varieties of toothpastes each labeled with specific desires and features. There are toothpastes that whiten, have tartar control, specialize in sensitivity, enamel health ect. One of the ways toothpastes are manufactured is dependent on how abrasive it is for desired results. Basically the more abrasive toothpaste is the more likely overtime you may experience: sensitivity, more frequent staining, notching close to the gum line, teeth appearance may look more yellow. There is a measurement used to describe the abrasiveness of something, called RDA (relative dentin abrasivity). All manufactures of the toothpastes use this measurement and must disclose this on the label or have it easily accessible to the public. The lower the number the less likely enamel/dentin is to be worn away.
From;
0 to 100= low abrasive
70 to 100= midrange abrasion
100 to 150= highly abrasive
150 to 250= considered harmful to teeth

Some common toothpaste used by our patients includes;

	RDA Value
Crest regular	95
Arm & Hammer sensation	103
Arm & Hammer advance white gel	117
Colgate whitening	124
Crest Pro health	140
Colgate tartar control	165
Colgate luminous	175

How can you minimize the effects of abrasion?

• Pea size amount of toothpaste
• Checking RDA of your toothpaste
• Proper brushing techniques
• Limit excessive brushing throughout the day. (2xdaily)
• Do not brush right after acidic foods

How does our dental office limit excessive abrasive paste while visiting?

1. prophylaxis paste used in office for polishing has different grits ranging from fine and med coarse (rarely used)
2. Your hygienist will assess your need for the prophy paste at your visit and either recommends having it done or not. It’s usually done with staining or tartar build-up.
3. Skipping prophy paste use for patients with sensitivity can help. For patients who like feeling of a polishing can have one upon request, but may be advised to skip an appointment if there is revere signs of wear, it is all on an individual basis.
4. Explain process of acid erosion and other contributing factors.

Unfortunately enamel and dental cannot be repaired or grow back. It is simply something that needs to be maintained and looked after in able to ensure signs and symptoms do not worsen overtime.


 
Natalie Chiofalo
RDH