What are Dental Sealants Used For?

When it comes to keeping healthy teeth and gums, there can be a few factors that play a role, like dental sealants. The most important thing a person can do to ensure they keep all the aspects healthy is by having a great oral hygiene regimen, which should include brushing two times per day and flossing. However, with even the best at-home oral hygiene routine, there can be tricky spots that can catch people off guard. One of the most common areas is the molars farthest back in a person’s mouth. These can be hard to reach appropriately with a toothbrush and are the most common teeth to have cavities form.

How can dental sealants help your oral health?

One thing that can be used to help with keeping teeth healthy is dental sealants. They have been referred to as a useful “safety net” in helping a person keep their teeth free from cavities forming. Although it should never be used as a reason to skip brushing and flossing, having sealants applied can be helpful in keeping teeth cavity-free between a person’s twice per year cleanings and checkups.

How does a dental sealant work?

One way that some dental professionals explain dental sealants is that they are a type of “raincoat” for your teeth. And when the cavity-causing bacteria begin to settle and attach to food particles and start their harmful ways, dental sealants can detour this from happening. For the teeth in the areas of the mouth that are harder to get to when brushing, this added security can be great for keeping teeth in great shape between visits to the dentist. Because of the dental sealant being present on a tooth, the food particles and bacteria will have no place to begin forming into plaque and cavities.

How are dental sealants applied to teeth?

Although it may sound like something that would require a special procedure, when it comes to dental sealants, that is far from the truth. In fact, it is a straightforward process and typically takes place after a dental cleaning or exam. The dentist will clean and dry the tooth completely before beginning. Then, an acidic gel will be applied to the tooth or teeth that have been discussed as being the best for having the sealants applied. After the gel has dried and is removed, the tooth will be “rougher” and will be ready for the dental sealant to be applied. Once this is applied and painted on the tooth, a special blue light will be used to dry the dental sealant.

Conclusion

Do you have more questions about how dental sealants work and how they can benefit your teeth and oral health? Give our office a call and we can answer additional questions you have and get you prepared for having the quick, easy process completed on your next visit. Give us a call today! Request an appointment here: https://whitingdentalarts.com or call Whiting Dental Arts at (781) 595-0596 for an appointment in our Swampscott office.

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