When dental sealants are applied to the back teeth, they can protect you from up to 80% of cavities for 2 years and 50% of cavities for up to 4 years.
Think of sealants like a shield that blocks out germs and food. At Advanced Care Dentistry, we are proud to offer high-quality dental sealants to protect your teeth to children and adults.
Here’s why advocate sealants as a preventive dentistry treatment.
To apply a sealant, we paint a biocompatible compound onto the grooves of your back teeth. This compound hardens and protects your teeth from bacteria that causes cavities. A cavity is a hole in a tooth that will get bigger and likely become bigger and lead to tooth decay.
Because the back teeth are the most common area to develop a cavity, sealants are a fantastic cavity preventing strategy.
Sealants can last almost 10 years, but sometimes they do fall out or chip. We check any sealants at your regular dental appointments. Any missing or worn sealants are easy to replace.
Children and teens, in particular, benefit from sealant application. Children are eligible for sealant application when they’re permanent molars come in, during the cavity-prone years of 6-14. Premolars and molars usually have deep grooves that benefit from the extra protection. We recommend sealing these teeth as soon as they erupt.
Adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also receive sealants to boost their protection from cavities.
Sealants can sometimes be applied over areas of early decay to prevent further degradation of the tooth, but not always. We will advise you if a sealant or filling is best for affected teeth.
Sealants aren’t a replacement for good hygiene, but they can help your brushing and flossing efforts. Sealants also aren’t a replacement for fluoridation, which strengthens teeth integrity.
Getting a sealant is painless and the compound hardens in just minutes. They don't change your bite, smile, or appearance. You might feel the sealant at first if you rub your tongue against the tooth, but it becomes a natural part of your bite quickly.
To get a sealant, we prepare the tooth by cleaning it thoroughly and placing a gel on the chewing surface. After a few seconds, we rinse and dry the tooth and then paint the sealant on the tooth. A specialized light helps harden the sealant to form the protective shield.
Sealants are clear or tooth-colored — no one will notice them when you speak, chew, or smile.
Sealants are less expensive than corrective fillings and are far less invasive to apply. Many dental insurance plans cover sealants. We can check your plan for verification.
The dental team at Advanced Care Dentistry is dedicated to promoting good oral health for people from in and around Woodinville, Washington. Great preventive dentistry care like regular professional cleanings, check-ups, screenings, and sealants help us achieve that mission. Call the friendly staff at our office or reach out via this website to set up an appointment.
