Dental Sealants
What are Dental Sealants?
They are thin layers of plastic, applied to the biting surfaces of molar teeth to protect them from decay.
Do Dental Sealants Last Forever?
Why would my Dentist recommend Sealants?
Sealants are recommended to those with a high risk of cavities and/or patients that have deep grooves in the biting surfaces of there molar teeth.
No they do not. Sealants can last more than 5 years but should be checked at every recare appointment to make sure they are still sealing the tooth surface adequately.
Are Dental Sealants Safe?
Do Dental Sealants replace fillings?
No. Dental sealants should be placed on tooth surfaces that are free of cavities. Cavities must be drilled out and filled, whereas sealants do not require any drilling.
Yes, however, in some cases trace amounts of bisphenol-A (BPA) have been found as a by-product of placing a sealant. Exposure to BPA from dental sealants is about 200 times lower than the level considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency in the US. According to the October 2010 Journal of Pediatrics who published a study on BPA and selants, the benefits of dental sealants far outweigh the potential risk of a brief and small BPA exposure.
