A sealant is a transparent plastic varnish that covers the chewing surfaces of the back-row teeth: molars and premolars. They have grooves (pits and fissures) that make them harder to clean and more prone to cavities. Dental sealants protect the grooves by providing a smoother surface that makes plaque and food debris slide off the teeth more easily.
The process lasts only a few minutes. The dentist will clean the child’s teeth before applying a conditioning solution over the chewing area. This liquid etches the surface to allow the sealant to adhere to the tooth. The dentist will clean the liquid and paint the sealant over the teeth. Afterward, they will harden it over the tooth using a curing light. After the sealant hardens, it becomes a hard plastic coating, and the patient can chew with their teeth again.
The procedure is not painful. For children who have dental anxiety, the dentist will try to make them as comfortable as possible. Placing dental sealants is non-invasive and requires no recovery period.
Sealants are not meant to be a permanent solution, so patients still need to come to the dental office for a routine checkup. The dentist will be able to check if the sealants are intact or compromised. With adequate care, sealants can survive up to nine years or more. If necessary, broken sealants can be restored.
As soon as the child’s premolars and molars start to come in, parents need to visit the dentist about getting sealants. The earlier the sealants are applied, the earlier they can shield the back teeth from getting tooth decay. The first application of sealants happens when the child is around six, when the first molars develop. After the second set of molars erupt (often around age 12 or 13), then the child can come in for sealants.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Sealants in Fort Worth, TX.
Although it is rare, adults who are prone to cavities can also get dental sealants on teeth that have not been filled or previously covered in sealants.
Yes. Dental sealants are only effective for the surface of the teeth they cover. Fluoride helps protect other areas of the teeth by remineralizing the enamel and fortifying it against cavities.
If you are interested in providing dental sealants for your child to protect their oral health, book a consultation appointment with the dentist. They will be happy to answer any questions you have about the process.
Request an appointment or call Riverside Dental at 817-210-4082 for an appointment in our Fort Worth office.
In many situations, dentists successfully utilize dental sealants to protect a patient's teeth from harmful decay. This simple preventative treatment is typically recommended for younger children but can also be helpful for adults as well. In fact, some dental professionals suggest sealants for adults with healthy teeth approaching middle and advanced age. While a wide…
A family dentist is a professional who offers various general dentistry procedures to patients of all ages. Those who practice family dentistry can treat many serious dental concerns, including an abscessed tooth. In addition to being painful, an abscess can lead to further health concerns. Patients experiencing this issue should seek treatment right away.An abscess…
If you notice that your gums are bright red, swollen-looking, or bleed when you brush or floss, then you may have gum disease. This disease, also known as periodontal disease, is unfortunately quite common though, so you are not alone. It happens most often due to a build-up of bacteria on and around teeth thanks…
Many patients also take antibiotics to treat the infection, especially if it has spread to…
Gum disease is not something to mess around with. It not only harms your mouth,…
Although Invisalign® clear aligners are different from braces, they offer the same basic outcome of…
Choosing dental implants is a great idea if you are looking into your tooth-replacement options…
The ideal place to go for treatment when you have a dental emergency should be…
When it comes to the dental care of your child, the right time for your…
