Preventing and Treating Cavities with Sealants and Fillings

Dental sealants are one of the best ways to prevent cavities after proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing.

Sealants alter the “terrain” of teeth wo reduce the areas that bacteria can hide and cause problems. This aids people in brushing, allowing them to remove more bacteria with each cleaning.

When bacteria gets to be too much for teeth or it manages to hide out of reach of a toothbrush and floss, it can lead to cavities.

Cavities can be fixed using dental fillings, which replenish lost mass within the tooth, strengthening it and protecting the rest of the undamaged tissue.

How Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities

Dental sealants are made from a special resin that is applied directly to a tooth.

This resin is similar to glue, but instead of bonding two surfaces together, it fills in grooves.

Imagine a long bolt with threading all down it. If you were to get dirt into the threading, it can be very difficult to remove.

Conversely, getting dirt on a smooth nail is easy to remove.

The resin used on your teeth would be like coating the entire bolt with resin and letting it harder. It fills in the grooves created by the threading and once dry leaves a smooth, much easier to clean surface.

Bacteria loves to congregate in crevices and grooves. If it can’t be easily reached by a toothbrush or floss, the bacteria can thrive. This is why bacteria is often found on top of molars and along the gumline.

Dental sealants can fill in the grooves of molars and teeth that have grooves in them from teeth grinding or hard foods.

By filling in the grooves, the surface of the teeth becomes smoother, making it much easier to brush.

Since the surface is easier to clean, bacteria don’t cling there as well, reducing the chances of developing cavities.

How Dental Fillings Fix Cavities

When a cavity does form, it can cause a lot of damage to your teeth and can also cause pain.

Cavities expose the inner portions of the tooth, mainly the dentin, to outside stimuli, which can cause the nerves to overreact. Teeth with cavities tend to be very sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure.

Repairing a cavity is a pretty simple task, however. Just visit your local Houston dentist and have it professionally cleaned and filled.

Fillings can be comprised of different materials, depending on the patient’s allergies, budget, or appearance preference.

Metal fillings like silver or gold are more noticeable, but very strong. They are better suited to the molars where higher bite pressures are located.

Composite resins and porcelain fillings look natural and can be color matched to your teeth. They tend to be more expensive, but patients love the natural look.

Allergies to certain materials may affect what kind of filling a patient can get. Most often, they will receive a metal filling for their more sterile properties.

Preventing Cavities in the Future

The best way to prevent cavities is to properly maintain oral hygiene. That means brushing your teeth twice per day, flossing every time you brush and after meals, and use mouth rinse to flush out debris.

It also means that you should visit the dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning. Cavities develop because of bacteria gathering in a small spot, and a good cleaning will clear all of it out.