Taking proper care of teeth requires a few at-home practices along with various types of dental procedures. Two of the most commonly used in dental procedures include dental sealants and fillings. These two dental terms can be quite confusing since they are both applied to the teeth during procedures that take less than 30 minutes. Additionally, they both seem to shield and coat the teeth. However, dental sealants and fillings are different. Sealants and fillings are different in numerous ways, such as their permanence, materials, and purpose.
Here is a brief look at what you need to understand how dental sealants and fillings differ.
- Purposes
Dental sealants and fillings are recommended by the dentist to achieve a certain result. Dental sealants are preventative measures which are designed to protect your molars from tooth decay. They are optional treatments that intend to fill in the crevices and grooves found on the molars, thus offering protection for the tooth enamel of each tooth that they cover. On the other hand, dental fillings are restorative measures that are taken to restore the damage caused by tooth decay. Naturally, before placement of the dental filling, the decay is cleaned out completely to guard against potentially harmful bacteria and further damage.
- Materials
Dental fillings are often made of different materials. Patients and dentists often have to select fillings that are either made of porcelain, silver amalgam, gold or composite resin. Silver amalgam is made by mixing mercury with an alloy of copper, tin, and silver. A tooth coloured material such as composite resin and porcelain is often preferred depending on the cosmetic desires of the patient and the location of the tooth been filled. The color of these materials can be matched to the color of your natural teeth. Dental sealants, on the other hand, are made of plastic, and they are applied to your teeth as a liquid, but they harden quickly when exposed to a special UV light.
- Permanence
The durability of dental sealants and fillings partly depends on the oral hygiene practices of the patient. When proper oral hygiene practices are followed, both of these dental procedures can remain intact for the expected amount of time. Dental sealants are more temporary measures since they can easily loosen or become damaged. Since the sealant is placed on the outer chewing surface of the teeth where grinding of food takes place, the coating can wear down more easily. Over time, the sealant will erode and need to be replaced. Conversely, fillings are more permanent, and they can last many years if the remaining part of the tooth is protected from tooth decay.
Bottom Line
Usually, when choosing between a dental sealant and a filling, the state of your tooth will be considered to make that decision. Talk to our dentists at Carrum Downs Dental Group, they will help to determine the extent of damage to your tooth, and they will guide you to choose the best treatment option. While the thought of having a tooth decay can be overwhelming, having these solutions at the back of your pocket should ease your mind.
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