Dental Sealants Prevent Tooth Decay and Cavities in Patients of All Ages
Every patient’s goal is to maintain a cavity-free smile. That’s why you brush and floss daily to keep pesky cavities from your smile. Unfortunately, cavities can still sneak into your smile despite your near-perfect dental care. Although preventing cavities might seem impossible, we have a solution to protect your cavity-prone teeth. At Mint Dental in Meridian, Idaho, we offer dental sealants to protect vulnerable teeth from cavities and decay. When combined with diligent dental care, teeth sealants form a formidable defense against cavities.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings applied to the biting surfaces of teeth that are predisposed to decay. These sealants effectively bond with the fissures and grooves found on these teeth, creating a protective barrier that covers the enamel surface of each tooth.
Dental sealants are ideal for children because they’re susceptible to cavities due to poor dietary choices and inadequate oral hygiene. However, adults, too, can benefit from sealants. We recommend teeth sealants to prevent cavities in patients of all ages.
How are dental sealants applied?
Applying sealants is one of the easiest procedures in dentistry. The treatment is painless and only takes a few minutes. These are the steps involved in applying dental sealants.
- Thoroughly cleaning the teeth
- Drying each tooth
- Applying an acidic gel on each tooth to create a strong bonding surface
- After rinsing and drying the teeth, we paint the dental sealant on the biting surfaces of the teeth
- Finally, we use a curing light to harden the sealant
Dental sealants offer a long-lasting solution for cavities. In fact, dental sealants can last up to 10 years, but your dentist usually checks their condition during dental exams to ensure they remain in good condition. We can repair dental sealants by adding more material or completely replacing them, as needed.
Benefits of dental sealants
Dental sealants are an excellent alternative to prevent painful cavities and costly treatments down the road. If you are considering dental sealants, these are the benefits you’ll enjoy.
- They are long-lasting
- They’re effective in preventing cavities
- They’re natural-looking
- Dental sealants are cost-effective
- The treatment is quick and painless
- They’re ideal for patients of all ages
- Dental sealants can reduce discomfort in sensitive teeth
Remember, dental sealants are preventive — they’re applied on healthy teeth and not those with cavities. So, the best time to seal out decay is now! If you want to establish whether dental sealants are ideal for your smile, please book a consultation with Dr. Kelvin Pulsipher by dialing (208) 900-4669.
