Dental Sealants
Muscle Shoals, AL
Dental sealants are helpful, especially if you are fighting tooth decay or gum disease. Dental sealants could be the difference between keeping your natural tooth and losing it due to tooth decay or gum disease.
If you aren't sure what dental sealants are, here is more information from Singing River Dentistry about dental sealants.
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What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are a thin, clear coating that acts as a shield for your teeth. They protect your teeth from the bacteria that cause gum disease.
Do Dental Sealants Hurt?
Dental sealants are painted onto your back teeth, especially the molars. You can have dental sealants applied quickly, and with no pain.
How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?
Our dentist will paint the sealant onto your teeth, then use a light to harden the sealant.
Once the sealant has been applied, the American Dental Association states that your teeth will be 80% protected against cavities for the first two years, and 50% protected for the next four years.
All in all, sealants can last up to 10 years.
You will need to keep a regular checkup routine with us, so that our professionals can ensure that the sealant is doing its task. These checks will also help to notice if the sealants are cracking or wearing out, and need replacement.
Why Should You Get Dental Sealants?
 Research shows that back teeth are more prone to cavities than any other teeth. Usually, back teeth, also called molars, are more difficult to brush and floss.
Also, food tends to become trapped in the molars, especially molars that have deep pockets. A dentist will be able to tell you if your molars have deep pockets or pits.
Some molars have deep grooves, due to heredity. If you have molars with deep grooves (pits or pockets), you'l want to get sealants applied to your molars.
How Are Dental Sealants Placed?
Dental sealants are easy to apply, and the application process is usually relaxed and painless.
As soon as you are ready for the procedure, our professionals will clean your teeth thoroughly. This cleaning is to ensure that we do not trap any bacteria inside.
Then, the teeth are dried entirely.
Once the teeth are completely dry, we will use an acidic solution to roughen the surface of the receiving teeth. This is to aid easy bonding of the sealant to your teeth.
Following the placement of the acidic solution, your teeth will be rinsed off and left to dry again.
After drying them, we will then paint the dental sealant over the enamel of your teeth. Each tooth is done individually, and the sealant bonds and hardens to each tooth directly.
A special light is used to quicken the hardening procedure of the sealant.
Who Can Get Dental Sealants?
Oftentimes, children and teenagers are the most expected candidates for dental sealants. Their developing teeth easily catch bacteria and may suffer decay in the groves of their molars.
You may be wondering "are dental sealants necessary for adults?" Yes, adults also benefit from dental sealants!
Patients who do not have fillings or decay in their molars and premolars are also suitable candidates for dental sealants.
Are Dental Sealants Safe for My Child?
You can get sealants put on your children's molars beginning when the molars start to erupt around the age of six.
While you can get molars on your child's permanent teeth, most dentists don't recommend sealants on baby teeth.
If you aren't sure about applying sealants on your child's teeth, you can ask one of our dentists for their opinion. They will be able to tell you whether sealants are appropriate for your child.
The Last Word on Sealants
Sealants are a great way to protect your back teeth from tooth decay.
They form a barrier between your teeth and bacteria in your mouth that can cause cavities.
Sealants are clear, so no one will know you have them.
Also, if you think the sealants are doing a great job at protecting your molars, you can have the sealant reapplied every few years.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Dentist in Muscle Shoals Today!
Sealants are a great preventative measure against tooth decay, especially on your molars, or back teeth, where it can be difficult to brush and floss. If you have issues brushing or flossing your back teeth, and you think sealants might be a solution, we can help. Contact Singing River Dentistry at 256-712-3186 today and let us make you an appointment.
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