Common Misconceptions about Dental Sealants Debunked

You rely on your teeth to kick off the digestive process and break food down so that it’s manageable for swallowing. To do their job, teeth have to be healthy, which means they should be free from cavities. That’s what dental sealants are designed to do–protect the teeth from decay. However, unless you’re already familiar with dental sealants, you may have some misconceptions about them.

They're Only for Children

Dental sealants are most commonly used for children. This is because their molars tend to have relatively deep crevices in them that can be difficult to clean. Sealants help fill in that space, preventing food particles from getting stuck and causing decay. Some people think dental sealants are only meant for children, but that’s not true. Dental sealants can be beneficial for anyone who has tough-to-clean crevices in their teeth.

They Aren’t Effective Enough

Sealants don’t clean the teeth, so it may seem strange to some people that they can protect tooth surfaces from decay. That may lead people to think they aren’t effective. The truth is that dental sealants can be very effective at preventing tooth decay when properly applied. They’re most effective during the first two years you have them, preventing as much as 80% of cavities. That number drops during the next two years to 50%, but that’s still plenty of decay prevented.

They'll Make the Teeth Look Funny

It’s easy to feel self-conscious about your teeth, which may cause concerns about how adding sealants to your teeth make them look. The good news is that no one is likely to notice that you have sealants. Dental sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of teeth, which aren’t usually visible. On top of that, they’re most commonly put on molars which, due to their location, are even less likely to be seen. Plus, sealants are usually white, clear, or slightly tinted. Altogether, it’s a practically visually unnoticeable treatment that is great at protecting your teeth from decay.

Misconceptions aren’t just incorrect information, they can be dangerous. In the case of dental sealants, if you could benefit from having them but haven’t gotten them because you have misconceptions about them, you have an increased risk of suffering from dental decay. Talk to your dentist to learn if getting dental sealants is a good idea for you.



Here at South Temple Dental, we offer crowns and sealants to our patients who need them. Click here to learn more about these treatment options today!