Q: What are sealants?
A: Dental sealants are a protective coating a dentist applies to shield the teeth’s enamel layer from food debris that can get caught in the uneven surfaces of your teeth. In particular, the teeth in the back of your mouth have pits and fissures. The uneven terrain of those teeth is especially vulnerable to the development of cavities.
The procedure is perfectly painless—no needles and no drilling. The dentist or dental hygienist will surround the tooth he or she is working on with cotton rolls and dry the tooth. The practitioner will then apply a dilute acidic gel that is used to etch slightly into the enamel. Over the etched area, the dentist will apply a liquid plastic that will seep into the etched surface, attach to the enamel and harden.
Sealants harden after being exposed to light for a few seconds. The resulting seal prevents bacteria from getting into the protected pit or fissure. Talk with your dentist about whether you or your children might be candidates for sealants.
If you, your family or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!
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