Several pieces of evidence show dental sealants are effective in preventing and stopping non-cavitated pit-and-fissure carious lesions. And it’s not something new in the dental industry. But, still, this simple treatment is widely underused. People, especially parents, are not ready for dental sealants. And it’s all because of a few misconceptions prevailing in the dental industry.
In this post, we will discuss the misconceptions that stand in the way of this quick, safe, effective minimally-invasive treatment and a lot of healthy smiles.
Misconception 1: Dental Sealants leak
The leakage of dental sealants depends on how properly the technique is used. If there are no voids after curing, the dental sealants will never leak.
Sealants don’t leak but they require a bit of maintenance, including touch-ups now and then. It’s because they go through a lot of normal wear and tear because of their placement on the most hardworking teeth in the mouth. If you give them periodic touch-ups, they will not leak and stay in perfect shape forever.
Misconceptions 2: Teeth underneath sealants decay
Actually, dental sealants prevent tooth decay. So no way, they can impact teeth negatively. When bacteria accumulate on teeth, they get easily removed from smooth surfaces with regular brushing. But, unfortunately, they tend to stick around in difficult-to-clean areas such as grooves, pits, and fissures.
When dental sealants seal these nooks and crannies, bacteria and food debris are unable to get in. This makes the smooth surface easier to clean and maintain. The tooth underneath dental sealants will decay only if they are not placed properly. So, make sure you work with an experienced dentist for dental sealants in Valdese.
Misconceptions 3: Dental sealants on decay teeth lead to cavities
Bacteria need fuel to survive and thrive that they get from food and drinks you consume. Due to dental sealants, the bacteria are unable to access this fuel and their growth process gets halted.
If there is no access to food, the bacteria will not grow. And when the bacteria will not grow, there will be no cavity. So, even if dental sealants are placed on a decayed tooth, it will not get cavitated.
Misconception 4: Dental sealants don’t last for long
The lifespan of dental sealants depends on how correctly they are placed. It’s said that if everything is fine, the dental sealants can last up to 5-10 years. But, the thing is sealants should be maintained properly because they go through a great deal of wear and tear than other teeth. Sometimes, they get chipped or fall off.
Fortunately, you can repair or replace dental sealants and use them like always. It’s good to make sealants check a regular part of your routine dental appointments.
Misconception 5: Dental sealants are difficult to apply
As dental sealants are hard, people think they are time-consuming and difficult to apply. But actually, applying dental sealants is a very simple process and takes only a few minutes. The only thing that makes a difference is the material of the dental sealants.
With fewer occlusal adjustments, dental sealants get easily placed on the most hard working teeth of your mouth.
Forget the misconceptions and schedule an appointment for the dental sealants in Valdese today.