Fillings & Sealants
Dental terms, such as fillings and sealants, can seem a bit confusing. After all, dental fillings and dental sealants are both applied to the teeth during procedures that take less than a half hour. In addition, they both seem to coat or shield the teeth. Nevertheless, fillings and sealants are different.
Dental Fillings
A filling is necessary to restore a tooth after a cavity or hole has formed from tooth decay. Tooth decay is damage to a tooth’s enamel from oral acids. The acids dissolve the minerals that make up the enamel, such as phosphorous and calcium. This dissolution weakens the tooth enamel and causes holes or cavities to form in the material.
Once a cavity has formed, in order to treat the tooth, the dentist removes the decayed portion of the enamel, cleans the area, and fills in the hole. The filling prevents additional damage to the tooth by blocking the entry of oral bacteria that could cause an infection or greater decay.
Dental Sealants
Sealants may be applied to a tooth that has not suffered any decay. They are usually added to the chewing surfaces of the molars. These areas are deeply grooved and allow food and plaque to easily settle on the teeth. The sealants help fill the grooves, while simultaneously forming a barrier to protect the teeth from oral acids.
Since oral acids are byproducts that are released by the bacteria of the mouth after digestion, the deep grooves of the molars are the perfect setting for decay. Bacteria feed on carbohydrates that are left in the mouth, and the deep crevices trap leftover debris from meals and snacks. The bacteria mixes with the debris to form plaque, which sticks to the teeth and allows the acid to make direct contact with the enamel before the acid is significantly diluted by saliva. As a result, tooth decay is more likely.