Dental Sealants
Deep pits and grooves in teeth make them susceptible to decay. Children who have not yet formed good brushing habits may also easily develop decay. Dental sealants offer a means of successfully protecting chewing surfaces from decay. Dental sealants are simply a thin plastic film that Dr. Klingonsmith and hygienists can apply to your at-risk tooth surfaces to significantly reduce or entirely prevent decay. In fact, dental sealants have been used successfully for nearly 40 years, and have long been recognized by the American Dental Association as a way to prevent cavities.
Preparation & Application
We apply the sealants with a few easy steps. First, we prepare your teeth with a specialized cleaning agent and brief exposure to an “etching” solution. After the etching solution has remained on the enamel surfaces for 15 seconds, we thoroughly rinse it away with water and allow the surfaces to dry completely. Next, we coat your teeth surfaces with the sealant material, which we then harden with a special curing light. The entire procedure is not only painless, but fairly fast, requiring between ten and forty-five minutes, depending on the number of teeth we are sealing.
Effectiveness & Durability
When properly applied to ensure maximum adherence, dental sealants have been proven to be effective in preventing tooth surface decay and the resulting cavities. Sealants actually create an impenetrable physical barrier for small food particles and cavity-causing bacteria. In fact, sealants can even stop an existing decay process from continuing, by cutting of the bacteria’s nutrient supply. Made of a durable plastic resin film, the sealant is applied to your most vulnerable chewing surfaces, covering, and penetrating the grooves and depressions. This covering reaches beyond where toothbrushes can go and acts as a barrier to bacterial plaque, so you are protected against decay.