Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are one of the most underused preventative dental measures available to patients of all ages. Dental sealants have the specific job of protecting the teeth from cavities and decay by “sealing out” harmful bacteria, acids, and sugars so that they do not damage the teeth. Dental sealants are just as beneficial for adults as they are for children, yet many adults do not know that they are available to them or how important they are for their dental health.

Dental sealants are plastic coatings that are applied to the pits and fissures of the molars and premolars in order to prevent bacterial buildup from occurring in these deep grooves. While brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist on a regular basis are essential to your oral health, they cannot protect your teeth from everything that assaults your teeth. Toothbrushes and floss are designed to remove plaque from the smooth surfaces of the teeth, but they are not designed to reach deep into the pits and depressions of the back teeth. It is inside these grooves that food particles become trapped, but the placement of dental sealants offers a protection by preventing anything from entering into these grooves.

Dental sealants are painless and require approximately two minutes of time per teeth for application. Following a dental cleaning, the sealants are painted on the back teeth and then hardened with a special curing light so that they will immediately bond directly with the tooth enamel. The special plastic material seeps into the tiny fissures, pits, grooves, and depressions of the molars and premolars, creating a defensive barrier against harmful substances within the mouth. As long as dental sealants remain in place, the teeth are protected from decay. This is extremely helpful for children and adolescents as they learn to care for their own teeth, but they are also helpful for adult teeth because adult permanent teeth also have deep grooves and fissures that are susceptible to decay and cavities. Dental sealants typically last for two to four years before a reapplication is necessary, but your dentist will check them to make sure they are properly secure at each dental visit.

At Family & Cosmetic Dental Care in Johns Creek, Dr. Mitul Patel and his staff are happy to provide dental sealants to patients as an advanced preventative procedure. We want to do all that we can to ensure the health of your teeth. Call today for an appointment.

Posted by Mitul Patel DDS, Family & Cosmetic Dental Care
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