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Dental Sealants: The Pros & Cons

A drawn "Before" image of a tooth without a dental sealant with small gray dots representing bacteria landing on it, beside an "After" image of a tooth with a dental sealant which a gray dot bounces off of.

Are you wondering if dental sealants are the right choice for protecting your family’s teeth? As your trusted Oak Lawn family dentist, we understand you want to make informed decisions about your dental care. Let’s explore everything you need to know about dental sealants, including their benefits and potential drawbacks.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are thin, protective coatings that cover the chewing surfaces of teeth, usually molars and premolars. They create a shield that helps prevent tooth decay by keeping food particles and bacteria out of grooves and crevices.

Sealants are most commonly applied to children’s teeth since kids are more prone to cavities than adults.

Pros of Dental Sealants

When it comes to preventing cavities, dental sealants offer many advantages. If you’re a parent, you might be wondering, “Are dental sealants worth it?”

Here are some benefits of dental sealants and reasons why they’re a great treatment for cavity-prone patients:

  • Protection Against Decay: Sealants can reduce cavity risk by up to 80% in molars (primary and permanent) for 2 years. This protection begins working immediately. With proper care, sealants can continue to protect against 50% of cavities for as long as 4 years.
  • Cost-Effective: Preventing cavities with sealants typically costs less than treating decay later with fillings. While some might worry about the initial cost, sealants often save you money in the long run by helping you avoid more expensive dental procedures.
  • Quick and Painless Application: The sealant application process takes only a few minutes per tooth, making it ideal for young children or those with dental anxiety.
  • Long-Lasting: With good oral hygiene, sealants typically protect teeth for 2-4 years. During regular check-ups at our dental office, we’ll monitor their condition and can reapply them if needed.

Cons of Dental Sealants

While dental sealants offer excellent tooth protection, it’s important to understand their limitations:

  • Not Permanent: Although long-lasting, sealants will eventually wear down and need replacement.
  • Limited Coverage: Sealants only protect the chewing surfaces of teeth. Patients still need to maintain good oral hygiene to protect untreated teeth and their overall smile health.
  • Initial Cost: While cost-effective long term, some insurance plans might not cover sealants. Check with your provider to find out if dental sealants are included in your plan.
  • Trapping Decay: While not common, it is possible to accidentally seal a tooth that already has a cavity. If this happens, the decay could grow underneath the sealant without any warning signs and lead to an infection. However, this is very unusual, since a cavity is not likely to go unnoticed by a dentist before sealant application.

Who Should Get Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants work best when applied early. We typically recommend them for:

  • Children and teenagers as soon as their molars emerge (usually around age 6 for first molars and age 12 for permanent molars)
  • Adults prone to cavities who don’t currently have any tooth decay or fillings in their molars
  • People at a higher risk of developing cavities due to illness, medication use, pregnancy, or other factors

Caring for Your Dental Sealants

To get the most value from your dental sealants, follow these simple care instructions:

  1. Maintain regular brushing and flossing habits. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces of teeth, but other areas still need attention.
  2. Keep up with regular dental appointments so we can monitor the condition of your sealants.
  3. Avoid chewing on ice or hard candy, which can damage sealants.

Dental Sealants vs. Fillings

While both sealants and fillings help protect your teeth, they serve different purposes.

Sealants are a preventive treatment that protects healthy teeth against decay. They’re applied to cavity-free teeth to prevent future problems. Dental fillings, however, repair teeth that already have cavities. They involve removing decay and filling the hole with special material to restore the tooth.

Protect Your Family’s Dental Health

You don’t have to wait until cavities develop to protect your oral health. At Oak Lawn Smiles Family Dentistry, we’re committed to helping patients in Oak Lawn and surrounding communities maintain beautiful smiles.

Schedule an appointment when you contact us today! Our team will answer all of your questions. If you’re wondering if dental sealants are necessary to maintain a great smile, we can help you make the best choice for your and your family’s dental health.

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

What Our Patients Say

I love coming to this clinic because they always greet you when you come in and make you feel welcome. They are always running on time, which is great because I have to get to work as soon as possible. My daughter likes coming here too and she used to be afraid of going to the dentist.
Susan W.

Susan W.

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Our family has enjoyed visiting Oak Lawn Smiles since we moved to the area. We all agree it is great having a perfectionist for a dentist. Thanks for all your care!
Chuck K.

Chuck K.

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I would have to say that I highly recommend the friendly staff at the office Oak Lawn Smiles. The staff is Awesome!
Laurie

Laurie

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I've always hated the dentist, but this place is awesome! First off, the staff is so great and welcoming. They made me feel 100% comfortable even though I was in a lot of pain and was honestly really nervous since it's been a while that I've seen the dentist. Dr. Theresa is by far the most personable and non judgmental dentist I've ever seen. She kept me informed the entire time during the visit and kept me calm. Love this place, maybe going to the dentist from now on won't be so stressful after all.
Nicki F

Nicki F

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I had my best experience I've ever had at a dentist here at Oak Lawn Smiles. The whole office is modern and the staff is very friendly! My dentist was very conservative with her approach on what to do with my situation. 10/10 would recommend to other people to check this place out.
Andrew J

Andrew J

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The team at Oak Lawn Smiles is the best! Amazing experience and great dentistry. Root canals are painless here! Place is exactly what you want when searching for healthcare.
Terri L

Terri L

Google - Logo
I love coming to this clinic because they always greet you when you come in and make you feel welcome. They are always running on time, which is great because I have to get to work as soon as possible. My daughter likes coming here too and she used to be afraid of going to the dentist.

Susan W.

Our family has enjoyed visiting Oak Lawn Smiles since we moved to the area. We all agree it is great having a perfectionist for a dentist. Thanks for all your care!

Chuck K.

I would have to say that I highly recommend the friendly staff at the office Oak Lawn Smiles. The staff is Awesome!

Laurie

I've always hated the dentist, but this place is awesome! First off, the staff is so great and welcoming. They made me feel 100% comfortable even though I was in a lot of pain and was honestly really nervous since it's been a while that I've seen the dentist. Dr. Theresa is by far the most personable and non judgmental dentist I've ever seen. She kept me informed the entire time during the visit and kept me calm. Love this place, maybe going to the dentist from now on won't be so stressful after all.

Nicki F

I had my best experience I've ever had at a dentist here at Oak Lawn Smiles. The whole office is modern and the staff is very friendly! My dentist was very conservative with her approach on what to do with my situation. 10/10 would recommend to other people to check this place out.

Andrew J

The team at Oak Lawn Smiles is the best! Amazing experience and great dentistry. Root canals are painless here! Place is exactly what you want when searching for healthcare.

Terri L