What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are one way that you can help to avoid the development of cavities and tooth decay. These sealants do pretty much what their name implies – they seal the surface of the teeth. Dental sealants are simply a clear, specialized coating that is applied to the biting surfaces of the teeth, predominantly the molars. By sealing off the biting surfaces, teeth are less likely to experience decay since the sealants make it less likely that bacteria, plaque and food particles can cause damage to the teeth and ultimately cause decay.
The process of having dental sealants applied to your teeth is rather simple. During a dental visit, the teeth are first professionally and thoroughly cleaned. Following teeth cleaning, the teeth are then rinsed and dried to prepare them for application of the dental sealants. The teeth are then treated with a solution that helps the sealant bond to the surface of the teeth. After applying the solution, the teeth are then thoroughly dried again. The dental sealant is then applied to the teeth and allowed to harden.
The good news is that dental sealants are clear so no one even knows that they are there. The sealant is comprised of a clear coating that hardens along the biting surface of the teeth, making it less likely that any of the usual culprits, such as plaque or bacteria, can penetrate into the fissures and grooves of the teeth and then sit there, resulting in tooth decay.
Molars are the most likely teeth to experience tooth decay and cavities because the grooves and fissures along the biting surface can trap food particles and plaque. This allows bacteria to form and it can be very hard to clean these areas well enough to prevent decay. By having dental sealants applied to the molars, it serves as an extra level of protection – sort of like a dental insurance policy – making it more likely that your teeth will remain healthy and free from decay.
We offer dental sealants at our office in Astoria, Queens New York, just 7 subway stops from NYC. This is just one way that we help to ensure that our patients receive the best opportunity for optimal dental health and protection against tooth decay. We encourage patients to use dental sealants as one aspect of their overall dental hygiene and preventative dental treatment regimen. This can help to avoid the need for more serious dental treatments down the road. Please visit www.718dentist.com or call (718) Dentist to schedule an appointment,
