Dental sealants are also known as fissures, fissure sealants, or pit sealants. Our dental sealant procedure is aimed at protecting the teeth and preventing cavities.
As a team of dental care professionals, we aim to ensure that you and your family enjoy most of your teeth and oral health. This is why we are constantly introducing the latest dental technologies with the aim to ensure that all our services provided are satisfactory and contribute towards the improvement of your oral health and hygiene.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are an incredibly thin resin coating that is added into the chewing surface of the molars or teeth located in the back of the mouth. Dental sealants are generally applied using a brush and aimed at protecting the tooth from decay.
Why are dental sealants used?
A lot of times, our dentists are faced with common questions about dental sealants and this is one of such questions. Dental sealants are applied to the teeth to prevent decay, which can be caused as a result of food particles that are lodged or trapped deep inside the ridges of the molar’s chewing surface. The trapped food, over time, may cause the affected tooth to become weak due to bacterial action and this may result in tooth decay, compromising the oral health and overall causing pain and discomfort.
At our dental practice, our dentists are more than ready to work with you to ensure that the ridges are properly sealed to prevent plaque buildup and prevent storing of food particles in the ridges. With dental sealants, you can eliminate areas in the teeth where food particles may become trapped and this, in essence, reduces the risks of cavities and tooth decay.
Who is dental sealant appropriate for?
Adults and children can benefit from the immense advantages offered by dental sealants. While adults enjoy the benefits of dental sealants, it is to be noted that the procedure is more common among children.
Dental sealant is more appropriate for children that have not yet suffered from tooth decay, especially on the teeth or tooth that the sealant is to be applied.
What is the Dental Sealant Procedure Like?
When you visit our dental clinic, we have a team of friendly dentists whose job is to ensure that you get the best attention. As part of their commitment to improving your health and that of your child, we make the process of dental sealant application easy.
Getting started with the procedure, our dentist will first clean your teeth or your child’s teeth. After proper cleaning, the dentist will proceed to apply a gel to the surface of the teeth and let it dry out.
After drying, the tooth will be rinsed and dried then the sealant will be placed on the tooth. In some cases, a special dental light might be used during this process to ensure that the sealant is correctly applied. The process of application only takes a couple of minutes for each tooth that is to be attended to.
How do children feel when getting dental sealants?
Most parents are concerned about the disposition of their kids when it comes to dental sealants. The truth is that most children don’t mind dental sealants. The process is fast, easy and straightforward. Being a painless procedure requiring no drilling or invasive preparation, it is one of the best gifts to protect against cavities and decay.
As an added advantage, dental sealants do not have any strange smell or cause irritation.
What does it feel like after the procedure?
In the aftermath of the procedure, patients do not present any real signs of changes as the procedure is simple and easy. Because the sealants are clear, they are hard to notice unless a patient reveals he or she has undergone such a procedure. However, if you or your child run your tongue through the sealed area, chances are high that you will feel the sealants in place.
Do dental sealants make a difference?
Dental sealants make a world of difference in that they protect the teeth from getting lodged with food particles which may over time lead to tooth decay. In most cases, dental sealants are the barrier between healthy teeth and one that is affected by cavities and decay caused by bacteria. Getting dental sealants can help you improve the oral health and hygiene of your child and even your adult teeth.
How often do I need to replace the dental sealants?
Sealants typically last between 5 to 10 years. This means that depending on use and the food item that is being consumed, you may not need to come in for another dental sealant application for about 10 years after the first application.
However, during the period wherein the sealant is still active, it is recommended that you go in for regular dental examinations and evaluations to ensure that the sealants are in great condition.