“Do sealants really prevent cavities?”
I am a 32 year old male. I want to know if sealants really prevent cavities?
8 Answers
When applied correctly sealants are a great tool to prevent cavities, they do not guarantee that you will not get cavities but, they reduce considerably the chances of getting cavities.
Hello,
Yes, properly placed and monitored sealants do prevent cavities. A sealant is a material that flows into the tiny pits and fissures of a tooth. It seals off this area and does not allow bacteria to get in. If bacteria does get into the pits or fissures of the teeth, a toothbrush bristle is way too big to get them out. By sealing off the pits and fissures it keeps these areas clean.
It is important to know that sealants do fall out occasionally and need to be put back in. If they are not examined regularly, cavities can still develop.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning the history of sealants. For almost 5 decades insurance companies did not want to pay for them. Eventually even the insurance companies realized that sealants would prevent cavities and other more expensive dentistry. Now almost all insurances pay for sealants. Hope this helps
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Yes, properly placed and monitored sealants do prevent cavities. A sealant is a material that flows into the tiny pits and fissures of a tooth. It seals off this area and does not allow bacteria to get in. If bacteria does get into the pits or fissures of the teeth, a toothbrush bristle is way too big to get them out. By sealing off the pits and fissures it keeps these areas clean.
It is important to know that sealants do fall out occasionally and need to be put back in. If they are not examined regularly, cavities can still develop.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning the history of sealants. For almost 5 decades insurance companies did not want to pay for them. Eventually even the insurance companies realized that sealants would prevent cavities and other more expensive dentistry. Now almost all insurances pay for sealants. Hope this helps
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
YES
Yes, they do.
Yes if you can’t get ‘stuff’ stuck into the deepest part of the grooves then there’ll be less chances of cavities on that part of the tooth- that’s why it’s important to do this procedure about as soon as the tooth fully erupts into the mouth (age 6-12)
If placed properly, they do prevent cavities, especially on molars. Sealants are placed right after tooth shows into the oral cavity usually at age 6 -7 years old.
Yes they do
Absolutely! The good thing about sealants is that they prevent the bacteria from growing in the little "nooks and crannies" in your tooth, and therefore, lessen the likelihood of you getting a cavity in the future. Also, you don't need numbing medicine to have a sealant placed. :)
