Fillings and Sealants
Tooth decay and cavities are common dental problems. Getting a tooth-colored filling can help prevent the issue from getting worse.
Tooth Fillings and Sealants
A dental sealant is a preventative treatment that lowers the chances of developing cavities in the deep chewing surfaces of your back teeth. Since these grooves, pits, and fissures are narrow and difficult to clean with a toothbrush, they’re some of the areas that develop cavities first.
By placing sealants over your chewing surfaces, we essentially create a shallower area that’s smoother and easier to clean with a toothbrush. That way there’s little to no residual bacteria left inside of the grooves following your typical brushing routine.
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How do cavity fillings work?
Cavity and tooth fillings are necessary because of the holes left in the tooth due to tooth decay. If left untreated, the decay will continue to spread and damage the tooth. During the filling procedure, dentists clean away the decay inside the cavity, usually with a drill to prevent further damage. However, this doesn’t repair the damage that has already occurred, so a filling is needed. The purpose of the filling is to replace the part of the tooth that has been damaged or destroyed by tooth decay. The dentist shapes the filling to match the surrounding tooth, restoring the strength and integrity of the tooth and preventing further decay.
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How long does a dental sealant last?
Dental sealants have been used and proven effective since the 1970s. They are typically placed on chewing surfaces and are great at preventing tooth decay. While their lifespan can vary, many sealants last for years. If a sealant wears off, a new one can be placed on the tooth. It’s important to note that sealants only protect the tooth surface they are placed on. To protect all tooth surfaces from decay and cavities, it’s still important to use fluoride and other preventative cleaning practices.
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What types of filling materials are available?
Several types of materials are available for fillings, including gold, porcelain, silver amalgam (which consists of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper), tooth-colored plastic, and composite resin fillings. A material containing glass particles, glass ionomer, is also used similarly to composite resin fillings. The type used depends on your dentist, the extent and location of tooth decay, and sometimes your insurance coverage.
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Who qualifies for dental sealants?
Sealants are designed for healthy teeth that have yet to develop cavities. In most cases, they’re placed on permanent molars shortly after they come in (around the ages of 6 and 12, respectively). However, adults can choose to get sealants too. It may be that their childhood sealants came off or they’re starting to develop cavities in other teeth for the first time.
Investing in affordable dental sealants can help you prevent more extensive (and expensive) oral health treatments in the future.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about fillings and sealants, contact our office or schedule an appointment with us using the buttons below.
