dental sealants

Prevent Tooth Decay with Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are highly effective in preventing tooth decay and cavities on your molars and premolars. These areas are the most susceptible to cavities due to the anatomized grooves. This is used to fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn’t brush, but because they’re too narrow to allow even one bristle into them. These will develop cavities over time, and you don’t want that. So the dentist will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.

Typically, children get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.

The Process
The process of applying sealants is easy and fast. The application steps are as follows:
  1. A thorough cleaning is done
  2. Each tooth is then dried
  3. A solution is put on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to help it bond to the teeth
  4. The sealant is painted onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens.
Sealants act as a barrier and protect the enamel from plaque and acids. They may last for several years before a reapplication is needed. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. They are not a substitute for brushing your teeth. It is important to maintain proper oral hygiene. Also, they do not protect between the teeth, so it is essential to continue to floss daily.
Contact Our Lee’s Summit Dental Office for More Information
If you need more information on sealants or want to schedule an appointment call our office or stop by our conveniently located office today.