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Our health is certainly our wealth. And our dental health should not be neglected. It may be a tiny part of the whole package but definitely, it will affect our well-being. As a matter of fact, clinical case studies have shown that certain dental conditions prove to be fatal if not treated at an early stage. This may be the reason why more and more people are deciding to get Individual Dental Plans for themselves and for their families.
Since the demand for dental health insurances have increased over the years, more companies are joining the trend and begin to offer Individual Dental Plans to the market. It is a known fact that most dental procedures, simple or complex, are expensive. Not only that, since most of these dental care require recurrent visits to the dentist. |
Although before deciding on which dental insurance to apply for, it is best to have your overall dental health checked first. This way, you can choose which of the Individual Dental plans that are available now would suit your condition. Read the policies and the coverage thoroughly so you'll know which one to get.
This way you can maximize the services that are included in your plan. You can compare several dental plans thru the internet. Read the benefits, advantages as well as disadvantages. Look for those that offer basic services such as prophylaxis, tooth extraction, check-ups, dental fillings, etc. for free. You can also check which plan provides you discounts in reparative dental care.
Dental Sealants
A dental sealant, or pit-and-fissure sealant, is a protective plastic coating applied on the chewing surface of teeth to help prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants, alongside the discovery of fluoride, are widely seen as two of the greatest advances in preventative dentistry. Preventative dentistry is the field of dentistry that tries to prevent decay from occurring, as opposed to simply treating already decayed teeth.
Tooth Decay
Through regular use, our teeth get covered with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. The bacteria found in plaque is harmless to our teeth, but combined with sugar or starch-containing foods which we regularly consume, they cause decay. The bacteria in plaque convert the sugar and starch into acids that can attack tooth enamel - termed "acid attacks". For some people, repeated acid attacks may eventually result in decay.
Regular brushing and cleaning between teeth with floss helps remove food particles and plaque that forms on the surface of tooth enamel. Another way to prevent decay would be to consume less sugar, so the bacteria in plaque have nothing to convert into harmful acid.
How do sealants protect from decay?
Certain parts of teeth are more susceptible to decay than other parts. For children and teenagers, the most common place that tooth decay develops is on the chewing surface of the back teeth (molars and premolars) - where dental sealants are most useful.
When you run your tongue along the chewing surfaces of these teeth, you can feel depression and grooves called "pits and fissures", respectively. Regular brushing and flossing helps clean most of the tooth surface, but pits and fissures are often difficult to access and keep clean. Tooth brush bristles cannot reach into the microscopic grooves to remove plaque bacteria that accumulate there.
Who are dental sealants for?
Since the likelihood of developing tooth decay on the chewing surfaces begins early in life, children and teenagers are the best candidates for receiving dental sealants. Adults can benefit from sealants as well, but for them, decay tends to occur on the sides of teeth, so flossing plays a more significant role in preventing decay. Adults who are susceptible to tooth decay though are often great candidates for dental sealants as well. They include those with poor oral health, deeply pitted or fissured teeth, or highly cariogenic diets.
Dental Procedure
As discussed, the procedure is most often performed on baby teeth soon after they have erupted, since these teeth are highly susceptible to decay. The procedure needs to be repeated yearly though, as the sealant gets worn off with regular chewing.
