What are dental sealants, and why are they important?
What are dental sealants, and why are they important?Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings painted onto the deep grooves of the molars in children and teens. Tooth decay forms when harmful bacteria feed on starches and sugars in the mouth, secreting acid that causes the erosion of tooth enamel. The hard, outer layer of teeth, enamel protects the soft, inner layer called dentin. Sealants protect against cavities by keeping food particles and harmful oral bacteria out of the hard to clean areas of teeth. Because cavities in children and adolescents usually form on the chewing surfaces of molars, sealants can help prevent tooth decay in younger patients.
How are sealants applied, and are they noticeable?
Sealants are relatively easy to apply. We will first clean your children’s teeth. We will then condition the surfaces of teeth with a special gel. After washing and drying each tooth, we then paint the sealants on with a brush. The process takes only a few minutes for each tooth.
Dental sealants are thin and only fill the grooves of back teeth, so your children will hardly notice the presence of sealants in their mouth. Because they are in the back of the mouth, sealants are unnoticeable when your children smile.
Will dental sealants last a long time?
Dental sealants hold up well to the forces of chewing and usually last anywhere between five to 10 years. Most children receive sealants after they turn five and they should not receive them after age 14.
Schedule an Appointment
If you have more questions about dental sealants, or if you would like to schedule an appointment for your children with Dr. Deborah Gennero, please call our West Houston dentist office at (281) 578-6200. We offer a variety of dentistry services to patients from the West Houston and Katy areas.
