We offer dental sealants because most kids and young adults need the additional protection.
Our dentists at Hibiscus Dental encourage brushing and flossing as the first line of defense in removing cavity-causing sugars, acids, and bacteria to prevent cavities. Yet children and teenagers (even with lots of prodding) tend to be inconsistent in getting their teeth and gums completely clean. The grooves and uneven surfaces in their molars are ideal hideouts for sugary starches and bacteria to hide. Over time, these missed areas start to break down, allowing the tooth enamel to decay – and a cavity is born.
We recommend dental sealants to protect teeth from decay for children, young adults, and also many adults who have softer enamel, unique mouth hardware or braces, or any contributing factor that indicates sealants will help ensure a healthy, cavity-free mouth.
Sealants are a thin, plastic coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent tooth decay. The painted on liquid dental sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and groves of the teeth forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that live in everyone’s mouth meet leftover food particles, they produce acids that can create cavities in teeth. After a sealant has been applied it keeps those bits of food out and stops bacteria and acid from settling on your teeth.
Children and teenagers are almost always great candidates for dental sealants. Kids should get dental sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. Dental sealants are most often used to protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14. Adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.
Applying the sealant to the teeth is a quick and painless procedure. We will clean and dry your teeth completely before placing a gel on your the surface of your teeth to form a strong bond between your tooth and the sealant. After a few seconds, your dentist will rinse off the gel and dry your tooth once again before applying the sealant onto the grooves of your tooth. Your dentist will then use a special blue light to harden the sealant. Because most sealants are clear, your dentist will still keep an eye on the sealed teeth to make sure the sealant is in good shape and still doing its job.
While sealed teeth are protected, please remember that dental sealants are temporary. Brushing and flossing are just as important for sealed teeth. The habits we create in our daily dental care affect our dental health and even our heart health. For a life-long healthy smile, there’s no beating brushing and flossing. For a little extra help in cavity prevention along the way, dental sealants are a great choice!
To find out more, give us a call at your favorite office location, or ask our dentists and hygienists at your Hibiscus Dental appointment. New and existing patients can now make appointments online: Request An Appointment
You can also read more about dental sealants here: www.mouthhealthy.org