DENTAL SEALANTS
Dr. Yvonne Schulke provides dental sealants to protect your teeth from cavities and help keep your smile healthy. While sealants are typically offered to children, adults at greater risk of tooth decay can also benefit from this preventive treatment. Call Parkdale Dental Center for more information and to set up your appointment with our skilled dentists.
What are dental sealants?
A sealant is a preventive dental treatment that our dentists may recommend to protect your teeth from decay. It is made of a clear or tooth-colored resin material, which is painted onto the chewing surface of the tooth. At our dental practice, we endorse the use of sealants as a preventive dental treatment, recommended by our experienced dentists to shield your teeth against decay. These sealants are composed of a clear or tooth-colored resin material, expertly applied to the chewing surface of your teeth. By acting as a barrier against the bacteria and food debris responsible for tooth decay, sealants effectively thwart the formation of cavities. Moreover, dental sealants create a smooth surface over the natural indentations and ridges of your teeth, facilitating thorough cleaning through regular brushing.
While predominantly suggested for children, our dentists frequently advise sealants for permanent molars as soon as they emerge, typically between the ages of 6 and 12. Additionally, dental sealants might be recommended for adult patients with teeth prone to decay or those lacking prior restorative treatment for decay. We’re pleased to offer this quick and comfortable procedure that can significantly contribute to preventing decay and preserving your radiant smile.
The mission of sealants
Dentists employ sealants to provide protection against disease-causing bacteria for your teeth. The deep grooves in your back teeth play a role in food breakdown during chewing. As time passes, the gathering of food and bacteria in these grooves can give rise to tooth decay, or cavities. Sealants are used to cover these specific regions, hindering bacteria from gaining access.
Who should think about getting dental sealant?
Dental sealants are commonly applied to children and teenagers, but adults without dental decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from this procedure. In essence, anyone with a risk of tooth decay in their back teeth should consider sealants.Although dental sealants are frequently linked to children and teenagers, even adults without a history of dental decay or existing molar fillings can find value in this procedure. Essentially, anyone with vulnerable posterior teeth should contemplate sealants.
Children’s premolars and permanent molars should typically receive sealants as soon as they erupt. From the ages of six to fourteen, dental sealants can prevent cavities in their teeth in this way. Dental sealants may occasionally be suitable for primary (baby) teeth as well. Sealants, for instance, can shield areas of your child’s baby teeth with deep grooves and depressions. It’s critical to maintain the health of baby teeth to prevent early tooth loss because they hold the space for adult (permanent) teeth in the mouth.
How to prepare for dental sealants
You don’t need to do anything to get ready for dental sealants. They will be inserted during a routine office visit by our dentist or hygienist. Your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned before we apply the sealants. This aids in preventing the buildup of bacteria between the sealant material and the surfaces of your teeth.
How dental sealants work
- Preparation: The teeth to be sealed are cleaned and dried.
- Application: The sealant material is then applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth, where it bonds to the enamel.
- Hardening: A special light is used to harden the sealant, which creates a protective barrier on the tooth surface.
- Dental sealants are typically applied to the permanent molars of children and teenagers as soon as they erupt. However, adults who are at high risk of tooth decay can also benefit from dental sealants.
What are the benefits of dental sealants?
- Protection against decay: Dental sealants provide a protective barrier against bacteria and food particles that can cause decay.
- Easy application: The application of dental sealants is quick, painless, and does not require any drilling or removal of tooth structure.
- Cost-effective: Dental sealants are a cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay, as they can last for several years and are less expensive than fillings or other restorative procedures.
- Improved oral health: By protecting teeth from decay, dental sealants can improve overall oral health and prevent the need for more extensive dental treatments in the future.
