Sealants
What are Sealants?
Sealants can help to protect your teeth from decay and deep staining. The back teeth often have grooves and fissures that can accumulate plaque and bacteria over time. Because it may be difficult to keep these areas clean, they are more susceptible to decay. In order to protect them, a clear varnish is applied and cured to fill these grooves and pits.
Why would Sealants be needed?
You might need or want sealants to further protect your teeth. If you have deep grooves on your back teeth and have already had multiple fillings placed, we might recommend having sealants applied. Most often, they’re used as a preventative measure for pediatric patients. However, more adults are choosing to have sealants placed because of how beneficial they are to their dental health.
What would make someone a candidate for Sealants?
We can examine your teeth to determine if sealants are right for you. Both you and your child can easily benefit from sealants. They are clear, so no one but the dental team will even know that they are in place. Most sealants can last for anywhere from one to three years before they can be reapplied as needed.
What can be expected during the procedure for Sealants?
Sealants are applied to just the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. We first clean and dry these areas. Liquid sealant is then brushed over the teeth and cured with a bright light. This prevents the sealants from washing away or moving out of place. Your new sealants can last for up to three years depending on the amount of wear they receive each day. Depending on the need for further protection, we can reapply the sealants as they begin to wear away.
If you’d like to learn more about sealants and how they work to protect your teeth, call our office today so that we can get you in for an appointment as soon as possible. Our low wait times and personable one-on-one approach to care will help to improve your dental experience.