Dental Sealants:
Preventing Cavities and Tooth Decay in Beaverton
The dental assistant will take an x-ray and make sure there are no cracks, chips or impurities in your enamel before they put this coating on your teeth.
10 years ago, teeth protection was a thing of the past. You did your best to keep your pearly whites looking good with brushing and mouthwash but it didn’t always happen. Lucky for us, we’ve expanded our product line to include tooth sealants that defy time. If you spend as much time chomping on sweets as you do binge-watching Netflix, a tooth sealant might be for you.
Tooth sealants can help protect against cavity-causing bacteria that leads to cavities and sour breath. Even if teeth feel healthy and strong, a sealant is a great preventative measure to keep your teeth healthy.
What Is A Dental Tooth Sealant?
Tooth sealants are plastic coatings that we apply to the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent cavities from forming or growing. They’re one step up from fluoride treatments because they provide an extra line of defense against dental caries. Sealants can last for many years, and can even protect against some forms of toothaches.
How Do Sealants Work?
Dental sealants are a cost-effective way to protect your teeth from decay and cavities. They work by blocking food particles coming in contact with the tooth, which can lead to tooth decay.
How Are They Applied?
The application process is quick and painless, and doesn’t require any drilling in your mouth! Sealant treatment typically takes around 30 minutes total with about 5-10 minutes of that time spent applying the sealant material. The dentist first smooths and shapes the surface of each tooth before brushing on a liquid resin that hardens into an adhesive plastic coating as it dries. Once set, they will trim off excess from any protruding roots or tusks before finishing up by smoothing down any rough patches, adding fluoride varnish if desired, and polishing all teeth for a seamless finish.
What Are They Made Of?
It’s a plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. They are used as an alternative to dental fillings, which are sometimes not necessary for teeth that have cavities in their biting surfaces. Typically they’re made from acrylic resin, though some are manufactured with glass ionomer cement.
How Long Do Sealants Last?
Dental sealants last for about 10 years or so and the best part is you don’t need to do anything special to keep them in good shape. That’s because they’re made of durable material which doesn’t wear down easily.
Who Can & Should Get Tooth Sealants?
Tooth sealants are great for adults and children. Sealants can be placed on baby teeth at a young age, or they can be applied to adult teeth as well. They are harmless and the procedure is painless. If you are curious about dental sealants then please schedule an appointment with our office and we will check to see if they are right for you.
Our teeth feature a lot of crevices that can be difficult to properly clean, especially for younger patients who lack the attention to detail and manual dexterity required to practice quality oral hygiene. To help lower the risk of tooth decay in kids, dentist Bita Zavari offers the application of dental sealants. Dental sealants effectively “seal” away the hard-to-clean areas of a patient’s teeth. Made from a hard plastic resin, dental sealants are easily brushed onto a patient’s teeth during just one 10-minute session. Once in position, sealants act as an impenetrable barrier that prevents the development of tooth decay in the treated teeth. Sealants are incredibly effective, do not change the way a patient eats or talks, and can last for several years before a reapplication is required. If you want to know more about what dental sealants can do to protect the oral health of your child, schedule a consultation with Dr. Zavari today!