Dental Sealants
East Wenatchee, WA
 It’s no fun always having to worry about the state of your teeth. Fortunately, we can provide you with some peace of mind using dental sealants – a substance that we apply to your teeth to help shield them from decay-causing bacteria. Dental sealants allow us to combat decay for many years, allowing you to rest easy knowing that your teeth are protected.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are a protective shield made of a resin that we paint onto the chewing surfaces of the molars. Sealants are most frequently used to protect children’s teeth from decay because they are at a high risk for cavities. It’s important to keep kid’s teeth safe while they mature and strengthen, for both baby and adult teeth. Adult teeth are obviously important but many people are surprised to find out that baby teeth are important as well.
Baby teeth play a vital role in not only overall oral hygiene, but they act as placeholders for the adult teeth that sit below them. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely there can be a lot of orthodontic work required if the adult teeth shift around before erupting. Orthodontic work is something that every parent should want to avoid.
The Procedure
No need to worry about complicated, expensive, or long-lasting procedures. To have dental sealants placed at our office is quick, easy, and painless. The first step is a thorough teeth cleaning followed by a drying of the molars that will be receiving the sealants. Once the teeth are clean and dry, we will paint the sealant onto the chewing surface of the teeth. With some time and the application of a special light, the sealant will bond permanently to your teeth. If, upon inspection of the tooth we find that there is any decay forming, we may recommend a filling instead of a sealant on that particular tooth. Once complete, the dental sealants will help protect your teeth from decay and staining.
FAQ
Q:Are dental sealants only for kids?
A:It’s true that sealants are most commonly used for kids, but it’s by no means a rule. There are plenty of circumstances where we will recommend sealants for adults. If your teeth are particularly susceptible to decay, we will sometimes recommend sealants.
Q:How long do sealants last?
A:It’s pretty impressive that anything can stand up to the kind of forces that your teeth are under every day. Most dental sealants last around 5 to 7 years, which is a decent amount of time for permanent dental applications.
Q:Can I brush and floss less?
A:Definitely not. Dental sealants are only applied to the molars and even then, only to one surface of the teeth. If you don’t brush and floss on a regular basis, you will see detrimental effects!
Q:How often should I visit the dentist when I have sealants? Can I come less?
A:While dental sealants do tend to last for 5 to 7 years, there are always exceptions to the rule. Sometimes sealants become cracked or come off completely and the chances of you recognizing such a change are almost zero. We recommend that you continue coming in to see us at least twice a year, not only so that we can check on how your sealants are doing, but so that we can clean and examine your teeth to ensure their health. |
