WHAT ARE DENTAL SEALANTS?
Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay. Most tooth decay in children and teenagers occurs on the chewing surfaces where pits and grooves tend to trap food and bacteria. Sealants fill in these pits and grooves so that bacterial cannot multiply and cause decay.
How are sealants applied?
Applying sealants is quite simple and may be done by a dentist, dental hygienist or a certified dental assistant. First, the teeth are cleaned. Then the teeth to be sealed are dabbed with a very mild acid solution similar in strength to vinegar or lemon juice.
This roughens the tooth surface slightly so that the sealant will bond to it. After the tooth is prepared, the sealant is painted onto the tooth. It flows into the pits and grooves and hardens in about 60 seconds. After sealing, bacteria cannot reach the pits and grooves that cause decay.
Will sealants make teeth feel different?
Sealants will not result in any change in bite because they are very thin and only fill the pits and grooves. At first they may feel somewhat bulky, but a few days or normal chewing will wear the sealants into place.
How long will dental sealants last?
A sealant application can last as long as five years and often longer. Sealants should be checked every six months and reapplied if they wear off. Because teeth are more likely to decay when they first appear in the mouth, dental sealants are recommended for children and teenagers starting at age 6 yrs.
Why is sealing to tooth better than waiting for decay and filing a cavity?
Sealants help to keep teeth healthy by protecting them from decay. Decay destroys parts of the tooth. Each time a tooth is filled or a filling is replaced, more tooth is lost. Using sealants saves time and money and helps to keep teeth healthy. When you combine sealants and proper brushing, you have a 95% effective rate against decay.
Back to Top
ORAL PIERCING AND HEALTH
Not too long ago, teens wanted to avoid the moniker "metal mouth," but the oral piercing trend seems to have overshadowed that social fear. Now piercing the tongue, lip or cheeks is a fairly popular form of self-expression.
People interested in this trend, however, should be aware that it is not without health risks.
PROCEDURE-RELATED RISKS
Infection: Infection is a possibility with any opening in skin or oral tissues. Given the mouth is teeming with bacteria, oral piercing carries a high potential for infection at the site of the piercing. Handling the jewelry once it has been pierced also increases the chance of developing an infection.
Prolonged bleeding: Damage to the tongue's blood vessels can cause serious blood loss.
Swelling and possible nerve damage: Swelling is a common symptom experienced after oral piercing. Unlike an earlobe that is pierced, the tongue is in constant motion, which can slow and complicate the healing process. There have been some reports of swelling subsequent to tongue piercing that has been serious enough to block the airway.
Bloodborne disease transmission: Oral piercing also has been identified by the National Institute of Health as a possible factor in transmission of hepatitis B,C,D and G. Although no cases of tetanus or tuberculosis transmission have been reported with regards to oral piercing, both have been documented in association with ear piercing.
Endocarditis: In addition, oral piercing carries a potential risk of endocarditis, a serious inflammation of the heart valves or tissues. The wound created during oral piercing provides an opportunity for oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream, where they can travel to the heart. This presents a risk for people who have cardiac abnormalities, or which the bacteria can colonize.
JEWELRY-RELATED COMPLICATIONS
Injury to the gums: Not only can the metal jewelry injure the gums, but also, it is placed so that it makes constant contact with the gums, it can cause the soft tissues to recede.
Damage to the teeth: Contact with the jewelry can chip or crack teeth. Likewise, teeth that have restorations can be damaged if jewelry strikes them.
Interference with normal oral function. Oral jewelry can stimulate excessive saliva production, can impede the ability to pronounce words clearly, and may cause problems with chewing and swallowing food. Furthermore, metal alloys used in the manufacturing of oral jewelry can potentially sensitize susceptible people, resulting in allergic contact dermatitis.
Interference with oral health evaluation: Jewelry in the mouth can block the transmission of X-rays. Clear radiographs, what you know as "X-rays," are essential to a complete oral health evaluation. Jewelry can prevent a radiograph from revealing abnormalities like cysts, abscesses or tumors.
Aspiration: There is always a possibility that the jewelry can come loose. As with any loose object in the mouth, unfastened jewelry becomes a choking hazard. The jewelry also could be ingested, which could result in injury to the digestive tract.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
There is a wealth of information regarding dental care at your fingertips. Just go to the America Dental Association's Web site at
www.ada.org and click on the Public content area for more discussion about dental hygiene, oral health and the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
Prepared by the ADA Division of Communications. Unlike other portions of JADA, this page may clipped and copied as a handout for patients, without first obtaining reprint permission form ADA Publishing, a division of ADA Business Enterprises Inc.
