爱华网Seal Out Tooth Decay
What are dental sealants?
什么是牙齿保护胶？
Sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfacesof the back teeth.
牙齿保护胶是一种薄的塑料涂层，涂在磨牙的咀嚼面上。
Sealants are put on in dentists' offices, clinics, and sometimes inschools. Getting sealants put on is simple and painless. Sealantsare painted on as a liquid and quickly harden to form a shield overthe tooth.
保护胶可以在牙医诊所和门诊室涂，有时也可在学校涂。涂保护胶非常简单且无痛。保护胶像液体一样被涂上，迅速干燥，在牙面形成一层保护层。
How are sealants put on?
如何涂上保护胶
1. The tooth is cleaned.
清洁牙齿
2. The tooth is dried, and cotton is put around the tooth so itstays dry.
擦干牙齿，并且在牙齿周围放上棉条使它保持干燥。
3. A solution is put on the tooth that makes the surface a littlerough. (It is easier for the sealant to stick to a slightly roughsurface.)
在牙齿上涂上一层溶液，使得牙齿表面变得一点点粗糙。（保护胶更容易在有点粗糙的表面粘牢）
4. The tooth is rinsed and dried. Then new cotton is put around thetooth so it stays dry.
再次清洗牙齿并擦干。把新棉条放在牙齿周围使它保持干燥。
5. The sealant is applied in liquid form and hardens in a fewseconds.
保护胶以液体的形式被涂上，几秒钟内自然硬化。
6. The sealant is in place.
保护胶就算涂好了。
注：原文此处配有6幅插图
Why get sealants?
为何要用保护胶？
The most important reason for getting sealants is to avoid toothdecay.
用保护胶的最重要原因是防止牙齿侵蚀。
Fluoride in toothpaste and in drinking water protects the smoothsurfaces of teeth but back teeth need extra protection. Sealantscover the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and keep out germs andfood.
牙膏和饮水中的氟化物能够保护牙齿的表面，但在后面的磨牙需要特别的保护。保护胶覆盖后磨牙的咀嚼面，挡住微生物和食物（残渣附着）。
Having sealants put on teeth before they decay will also save timeand money in the long run by avoiding fillings, crowns, or capsused to fix decayed teeth.
在牙齿遭受侵蚀前就涂上保护胶，从长远看，能够通过避免填充、修补牙冠等修复受损牙齿的需要来节省时间和金钱。
What causes tooth decay?
什么导致牙齿侵蚀？
Germs in the mouth use the sugar in food to make acids. Over time,the acids can make a cavity in the tooth.
口腔中的微生物利用食物（牙齿上的食物残渣）中的糖来制造酸。时间长了，这些酸使牙齿上出现凹孔。
Of course a healthy tooth is the best tooth. So it is important toprevent decay. That's why sealants are so important.
当然，健康的牙齿是最好的牙齿。所以，防止牙齿受侵蚀是很重要的。这就是为何保护胶如此重要的原因。
Why do back teeth decay so easily?
为何后磨牙如此容易被侵蚀？
The chewing surfaces of back teeth are rough and uneven becausethey have small pits and grooves. Food and germs can get stuck inthe pits and grooves and stay there a long time because toothbrushbristles cannot brush them away.
后磨牙的咀嚼面是粗糙和不平的，因为它们有小的凹陷和沟槽。食物和微生物在这些凹陷和沟槽出被卡住，并停留很长时间，因为牙齿无法把它们刷掉。
Who should get sealants?
谁应该涂保护胶？
Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon asthe teeth come in -- before decay attacks the teeth.
孩子在磨牙的恒牙长出了的时候，就涂上保护胶—在牙齿遭侵蚀前。
The first permanent molars -- called "6 year molars" -- come inbetween the ages of 5 and 7.
第一批磨牙的恒牙—称为“6岁磨牙”—在5到7岁之间长出来。
The second permanent molars -- "12 year molars" -- come in when achild is between 11 and 14 years old.
第二批磨牙的恒牙—叫做“12岁磨牙”—在11到14岁之间长出来。
Other teeth with pits and grooves also might need to besealed.
其他有凹陷和沟槽的牙齿也可能需要保护胶。
Teenagers and young adults who are prone to decay may also needsealants.
青少年和青年，他们的牙齿容易受侵蚀，可能也需要涂保护胶。
Should sealants be put on baby teeth?
乳牙也应该涂保护胶吗？
Your dentist might think it is a good idea, especially if yourchild's baby teeth have deep pits and grooves.
你的牙医或许会认为这是个好主意，特别是如何你的宝宝的牙齿有深的凹陷和沟槽。
Baby teeth save space for permanent teeth. It is important to keepbaby teeth healthy so they don't fall out early.
乳牙为恒牙占住空间。保持乳牙健康，从而它们不会过早脱落是很重要的。
Does insurance pay for sealants?
保险公司支付保护胶的费用吗？
Some health insurance programs pay for sealants. Check with yourstate Medicaid program or your insurance company for details.
有的健康保险会为保护胶支付费用。核实一下医疗救助或保险公司的合同细节。
How long do sealants last?
保护胶能保持多久？
Sealants can last up to 10 years. But they need to be checked atregular dental check-ups to make sure they are not chipped or wornaway. The dentist or dental hygienist can repair sealants by addingmore sealant material.
保护胶能持续长达10年。但需要在定期的牙科检查时对它进行检查，以确保它们未被磨损掉。牙医或者牙防人员可以通过添加保护胶材料来修补它。
What if a small cavity is accidentally covered by a sealant?
如果一个小的凹孔不小心被保护胶覆盖了会怎样？
The decay will not spread, because it is sealed off from its foodand germ supply.
侵蚀的凹孔不会扩散，因为它也把新的食物残渣和微生物给隔开了。
Are sealants new?
保护胶是新玩意吗？
No, sealants have been around since the 1960s. Studies by theNational Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and othersled to the development of dental sealants and showed that they aresafe and effective.
不，20世纪60年代，保护胶已经出现了。国家牙科和颅面研究所和其他机构的研究成果导致了牙齿保护胶的发展，并且显示它很安全有效。
But many people still do not know about sealants. About one-thirdof children in the United States have sealants on theirteeth.
但很多人至今尚不知道保护胶。在美国大约三分之一的孩子使用了保护胶。
Besides sealants, are there other ways to prevent toothdecay?
除了保护胶，还有其他防止牙齿侵蚀的方法吗？
Yes. Using fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water canhelp protect teeth from decay.
是的。使用含氟化物的牙膏和喝含氟化物的水可以帮助防止牙齿受侵蚀。
Water is fluoridated in about two-thirds of cities and towns in theUnited States. If your water is not fluoridated or if yourchildren's teeth need more fluoride to stay healthy, a dentist canprescribe it in the form of a gel, mouthrinse, or tablet.
在美国，三分之二的城市和城镇的水都进行了氟化处理。如果你的饮水没有氟化或者你的孩子的牙齿需要更多的氟化物来保持健康，牙医可以开凝胶体的、口腔清洗的或者片状的氟化物
Fluoride is the best defense against tooth decay!
氟化物是防止牙齿受侵蚀的最好防护物！
Fluoride...
氟化物能…
?makes teeth more resistant to decay
?使牙齿更耐侵蚀
?repairs tiny areas of decay before they becomebig cavities
?在小的侵蚀变成大洞穴之前修补它
?makes germs in the mouth less able to causedecay
?减弱口腔中的微生物的侵蚀能力
Fluoride helps the smooth surfaces of the teeth the most. It isless effective on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Regularbrushing -- with fluoride toothpaste -- also helps prevent toothdecay.
氟化物对牙齿的光滑面的保护作用最大。在后磨牙的咀嚼面的保护作用最小。定期刷牙—使用含氟牙膏—也能防止牙齿受侵蚀。
Sealants and fluoride together can prevent almost all toothdecay.
保护胶和氟化物一起，能够防止几乎所有的牙齿侵蚀。
How can I get dental sealants for my children?
我如何为我的孩子获得保护胶？
Talk to your dentist, state or local dental society, or healthdepartment. Sometimes sealants are put on at school. Check withyour school about whether it has a sealant program.
询问你的牙医、州和地方牙防机构、或者健康部门。有时，保护胶也在学校获得。核实你的学校是否有提供保护胶的计划。
