Dental Sealants
What Is Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are transparent plastic coatings that are applied to the surface of teeth. This is done to provide additional protection in the fissures or deep grooves of teeth where there is an increased risk of decay formation. Sealants are beneficial if your child is prone to developing cavities. While fluoride can significantly reduce the number of cavities, it cannot fully protect the grooves of the teeth.
Pediatric dental sealants prevent bacteria and food particles from settling on the pit and fissures of the teeth. Applying sealants, when done alongside fluoride treatments, can provide maximum protection against tooth decay. At Sedro-Woolley Family Dental Center, we provide complete protection for your child’s teeth against cavities and recommend placing dental sealants over their teeth.
When Are Sealants Applied?
As the molar teeth are deeply grooved, cleaning them effectively can be pretty challenging. Sealants help to protect these indentations, drastically reducing the bacteria and food debris on the teeth.
We typically recommend applying a sealant on molars of children aged six to twelve years old at our office since these are grooved and particularly vulnerable to tooth decay and cavities. We may also seal your child’s permanent premolars.
Any tooth with grooves can benefit from sealants. But most crucially, they still require brushing and cleaning as usual. Dental sealants cannot entirely prevent cavities, but they do help improve the tooth’s overall health and hygiene.
How Are Sealants Applied?
The procedure for dental sealants is pretty quick and simple:
- The tooth’s surface is meticulously cleaned and completely dried.
- The sealant is smeared onto the tooth, covering grooves and pits
- The sealant hardens in just a few minutes with a curing light.
- The complete process takes about thirty minutes, even with multiple teeth. Most sealants last many years even with normal chewing and biting. Moreover, sealants can be reapplied as frequently as required.
How Long Do Sealants Last?
Although sealants are ultra-thin, they last for years. Maintaining a healthy diet and a dedicated brushing and flossing routine should be continued. We recommend avoiding sticky or hard food, candy, and caramels since these components could crack or dislodge sealants.
If you are interested in reducing the risk of cavities, sealants are highly effective. To learn more about this treatment and schedule a consultation, visit us at Sedro-Woolley Family Dental Center in Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284, or call us at (360) 855-0351.
