Prevention is the best cure.
What is a sealant?
Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are usually painted on the chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth (the premolars and molars) to protect them from decay.
Why are sealants recommended?
Although excellent brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, oftentimes, even with the best technique, we cannot access all the nooks and crannies of the back teeth to remove food, plaque, and other debris. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by flowing into these grooves and fissures, forming a protective shield over the top of the tooth to “seal out” any debris that could cause future decay.
Who typically get sealants?
Typically we recommend sealants for children and teenagers, sealing their premolars and molars as soon as these teeth come in. At whole dental wellness we believe prevention is the best cure. We want to stop decay before it occurs. For this reason, sometime we do recommend sealants in adults without decay or fillings in their molars and even in baby teeth with deep depressions and grooves. Baby teeth are play a very important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth. We will work with you wand your child to ensure their first teeth stay health and are not lost too early.
How Are Sealants Applied?
Don’t worry. Applying sealants is a simple and pain-free process. It takes only a few minutes for your dentist or periodontal therapist to apply the sealant(s) – and no anesthetic is needed. The application steps are as follows:
- The teeth to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned
- Each tooth is dried and a cotton roll is put around the tooth to keep it dry
- An special soap is painted on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them a bit
- This improves the strength of the sealant bond to the teeth
- The teeth are rinsed and dried with air
- The sealant(s) are painted on, instantly hardening and bonding to the top of the tooth
- Oftentimes we use a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden even faster
How Long Do Sealants Last?
A long time. Sealants can continue to protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years! Rest assured, we will check your sealants at every regular dental checkup to evaluate if any chipping, wearing, or debonding has occurred.