What are dental sealants?
Having and maintaining a healthy mouth and beautiful smile is not a matter of good luck, it’s a matter of consistent healthy oral habits practiced daily.
As Benjamin Franklin so wisely said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That being said, sometimes even the best preventive efforts are not enough and more action is required. Luckily, our trusted dental professionals at the office of Leslie Anthony, D.M.D. have some solutions for you.
Brushing and flossing helps prevent cavities and decay
However, sometimes we miss the areas that our tooth brush and floss just can’t reach. Our back teeth, known as molars, are used for grinding and chewing food. Molars have uneven surfaces with lots of grooves and crevices therefore, food particles and bacteria like to hide out. Consequently, food debris and bacteria missed by brushing may result in tooth decay and cavities in those hard to get to spaces.
How can we prevent bacteria and food particles from getting stuck in our hard to clean places?
Dental Sealants, a noninvasive and does not require any local anesthetic.
A dental sealant is a plastic coating that Dr. Leslie Anthony applies to fill in the deep grooves on the molars. This creates a smooth surface that is easy to clean and decreases your risk of tooth decay to those areas.
Dental sealants are an effective treatment used to prevent decay and are most commonly used to treat children but some adults find them beneficial as well. Regardless of your age, everyone is at risk for tooth decay. For children, a good time to apply sealants is after your child’s permanent teeth have come in, usually around the age of 13.
The process of how dental sealants are applied:
- The surface of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and dried
- Liquid sealant Is applied to the tooth
- Curing Light is applied to harden the sealant
The durability of dental sealants varies from patient to patient. They can last anywhere from one to ten years with proper care. Since the dental sealant looks and feels like your natural tooth and gradually wears down over time, it is important to have Dr. Leslie Anthony inspect your dental sealants every six months at your regular checkups.
If you think that you or your child might be a good candidate for dental sealants, the next step is to have a consultation with Leslie B. Anthony D.M.D.
