Dental Sealant Candidates

06/24/2013 by admin in General Dentistry

At Scripps Center for Dental Care, our team of experienced dentists believes in offering our patients comprehensive dental care. That means we pride ourselves in providing patients with high quality cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, and general dentistry services. The goal of our general dentistry services is to maintain a healthy oral environment to prevent major dental problems. There is no better time to start quality general dentistry care than childhood; this is why we take particular care in ensuring good oral health for our young San Diego patients. Dental sealants are one of the preventative dentistry tools we use to protect the health and structure of the teeth and prevent the need for more invasive dental work.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are a thin plastic coating that is applied to the grooves on the surface of the teeth. Sealants are typically placed on the back teeth, where tooth decay is most likely to occur. The sealants block germs and food particles from getting stuck in these grooves of the teeth, thus preventing tooth decay from occurring.

Applying Dental Sealants

The application of dental sealants is quick and painless. Because the tooth has not decayed, there is no need to drill into the tooth or remove tooth structure. The tooth will be cleaned and a special gel will be applied to the surface of the tooth. After a few minutes the tooth will be washed and dried and the sealant will be brushed on the tooth. The sealant is typically clear or white so it will not be obviously noticeable in the child’s mouth. Once the sealant has been applied, a dental light will be used to help dry and harden the sealant. It typically takes just a few minutes for the sealant to dry.

Benefits of Dental Sealants

Some may question the method of providing dental treatment before a problem has occurred, but there are actually many benefits to dental sealants. Dental sealants protect the teeth from decay. While it is true that tooth decay can be treated, it causes permanent damage to the teeth. If multiple treatments are required, the tooth may become even more damaged, as the tooth weakens each time it is drilled or healthy tooth enamel is lost. In addition to protecting the tooth, dental sealants are beneficial because they:

Save the time, money, and discomfort of more expensive restorative dental work
Protect the teeth without compromising the aesthetics or function of the teeth
Provide protection for the tooth for five to 10 years
Maintaining Oral Health

Dental sealants are very beneficial in maintaining oral health, but they are just one component of proper oral care. Children need to be taught proper oral hygiene techniques and brought to the dentist regularly. If tooth decay does occur, dental treatments such as composite fillings should be applied as soon as possible to restore the tooth and prevent further decay. All of the necessary care for oral health maintenance can be provided by our dentists at Scripps Center for Dental Care.

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