Sealants

Preventing tooth decay can save time, money, and discomfort. Dental sealants are a simple way to significantly lessen the chance of you or your child developing cavities in the back molars. At My Tooth Place in Westminster, California, Aury Arroyo-Lourenco, DDS, offers dental sealants to keep patients’ smiles healthy and beautiful. Schedule an evaluation by calling the office or requesting a visit online today. 

What are sealants?

Sealants are thin, tooth-colored coatings that your dentist can apply to the back of your or your child’s teeth (molars). Sealants cover tooth grooves to reduce the risk of disease-causing bacterial buildup and dental decay. Sealants contain medical-grade materials like resins and glass ionomers. They can dramatically reduce the risk of cavities, especially in children.

What are the benefits of dental sealants?

Dental sealants offer the following benefits and more:

• Healthier, stronger teeth
• Lower risk of tooth decay
• Dental cost savings
• Strong and long-lasting materials
• Discrete appearance
• Noninvasive, painless application method

Dental sealants are common preventive dental treatments, as about 42% of kids aged 6-11 and 48% of teenagers have dental sealants. Kids who don’t have sealants are three times more likely to develop tooth decay.

Who is a candidate for dental sealants?

Children and teenagers are ideal candidates for dental sealants to minimize the risk of dental decay. Adults without dental fillings or crowns on their back molars can also take advantage of dental sealants. Anyone with a high risk of tooth decay might consider sealants. They’re especially helpful during the cavity-prone years (ages 6-14).

The My Tooth Place team reviews your or your child’s oral health history, examines their teeth and gums, and reviews the results of dental X-rays when necessary to determine if they’re a candidate for dental sealants.

What can I expect when getting dental sealants?

There’s nothing you have to do to get ready for dental sealants. Your provider can apply them during a routine dental appointment at My Tooth Place. 

First, they carefully clean your teeth to remove any bacteria from the back molars. Then, they dry your teeth and paint a tiny amount of an etching solution on your molars to help the sealant bond better. They rinse and dry the teeth, paint a sealant on the surface, and shine a curing light on the sealant to harden it. This process typically takes just a few minutes. 

What happens after receiving sealants?

There’s no downtime needed after receiving sealants at My Tooth Place, so you can resume your usual activities right away afterward. This includes eating and drinking. But avoid chewy, sticky, and very hard foods when possible because they can erode or chip the sealants. Sealants often last up to five years, but you can have them replaced as often as needed.

Take advantage of sealants at My Tooth Place by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.