Why Do You Need Dental Sealants?
You may need dental sealants because some of your teeth have grooves on the chewing surfaces. These can be quite deep, and they provide a great hiding place for food, which can lead to decay. The dental sealant is a plastic coating we can apply to these teeth so that food cannot get stuck inside of pits and grooves.
If you bring children to our office, we will check their teeth to see if they need sealants. Generally, we apply the first sealant once the permanent back teeth erupt. In some cases, we apply sealants to baby teeth. Adult patients may also need dental sealants. We always check the condition of the original sealant to see if they need reinforcement, and we can apply a new sealant if necessary.
Applying the Sealant
We will start the sealant application by preparing the tooth. We will remove any food from the grooves, and we will also remove any plaque on the tooth. Then we will etch the surface of your tooth to help the sealant bond. We will use a brush to apply the dental sealant onto the grooves of the tooth. We will then bond the dental sealant to the surface of your tooth by using a special light for a few seconds.
When that’s done, we will do a final check on the condition of the sealant. We will also make sure that you have proper contact between the upper and lower surfaces of your teeth. The sealant will harden, and you will be able to chew normally.